A new report from the energy think tank Ember reveals that the Caribbean installed nearly twice as much solar capacity as official statistics indicated between 2021 and 2024. While regional deployment is outpacing recorded figures, policy barriers continue to hinder a transition away from a heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels.
Across 13 Caribbean nations, fossil fuels generated over 90 percent of electricity, leaving the region vulnerable to global price shocks and some of the world's highest energy costs. Ember’s Latin America analyst, Wilmar Suárez, stated, “Policies, not costs, are the main barrier to renewable deployment in the Caribbean.” Despite renewables often being cheaper than fossil power, the region remains dependent on imported oil and gas, with countries like Jamaica and Barbados spending significantly more of their gross domestic product on fuel imports than the global average. The report estimates that 2,280 megawatts of solar panels were installed over the three-year period, far exceeding the 1,269 megawatts officially recorded.
To accelerate the energy transition, the report recommends establishing independently checked renewable targets, separating grid licensing from utility control, and designing transparent, system-focused tenders. Meeting current verifiable targets could increase the renewable share of electricity to 23 percent by 2030, significantly reducing fossil fuel generation.