Most Small Island Developing States (SIDS) rely heavily on conventional fossil fuels for electricity generation and transport; however, renewables have the potential to deliver quick returns, decrease costs, create jobs and improve the local economy for many of these island states.
During the revision process for its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda proposed a target of achieving 100 percent of its energy generation from renewable energy sources by 2030. This renewable energy roadmap for Antigua and Barbuda has subsequently been developed by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) at the request of the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment.
The Roadmap charts a path for the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, providing options for achieving a 100 percent renewable energy share in both the power and transport sectors by 2030 and 2040, respectively. Five specific scenarios have been analysed, together with multiple renewable energy options including utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV), distributed solar PV, utility-scale wind and green hydrogen. Meanwhile, electric vehicles (EVs) are considered for achieving a 100 percent renewable transport sector by 2040. The Roadmap also outlines various policy recommendations that will be crucial for the implementation of these scenarios, charting a path for Antigua and Barbuda to transition from a power system dominated by fossil fuels toward one with a higher share of renewable energy.