Last night, we took a deep dive into renewable energy and rooftop solar. Experts in the energy sector say that if the government, the regulator, and BEL, the electricity provider, can find a way to allow regular citizens to install solar panels on their rooftops, they will be able to get value for that. But, more importantly, Belize will boost its energy independence by accessing more indigenous sources of power, and the country will take a significant step toward achieving net zero carbon emissions.
The project has multiple benefits and is poised to feature prominently in the Briceno Administration's National Energy Policy. But, there are a few missteps that Belize could avoid by learning from the experiences of other nations that have already traveled this route.
Tonight, in part two of his story on Rooftop Solar, Daniel Ortiz explores those pitfalls:
But, there is also a major pitfall to this system which consumers, the utility company, and the regulator must warily guard against.
BEL will have to enter some sort of power purchase agreement with each bill payer to buy the power being generated from his or her rooftop solar system. Depending on the terms of those contracts, BEL may be legally obliged to buy power from citizen - or corporate - producers at a higher cost than other available sources. Whether through oversight or dishonesty, that could lead to an increase in the utility rates that everyone else pays, which goes contrary to one of the main incentives of the program.
Rooftop solar is supposed to supplement and backstop the national grid's other energy sources, not replace or supersede them.
Dr. Devon Gardner
"If it is that you're going to be looking at distributive generation as part of your mix, you have to understand what role the distributive generation is going to play on the supply side. And try to ensure that the distributive generation is not being implemented faster than it is required. If you implement it too fast, what could happen is that you could end up with far too much of it on your system, and then it would require you to turn off those centralized generators in instances where the contracts which you give to those distributive generators require you to take the energy whenever it's available. That has been what has happened in many countries. In many instances, the utility would have had cheaper sources of energy that are being generated centrally or more stable sources of energy that are being generated."
And as Belize is in the planning phase to embark on this bold shift toward renewable green energy, some concerned citizens have taken note that the allure of fossil fuels is still strong, an allure which contradicts Belize's current push to behave in an environmentally responsible manner and reduce its carbon footprint.
Oceana Belize is in the middle of an attempt to trigger a referendum on offshore oil exploration and seismic testing. Those conservationists interpret early indications from the Briceno Government to test as an attempt to open the door to off-shore oil drilling. Prime Minister Briceno and his government say that they are simply applying the scientific method of data collection and testing to know exactly what is located under Belize's exclusive economic zone.
In Toledo, US Capital Energy is engaging with the Maya communities for permission to resume their oil exploration pursuits.
Cristina Coc, Spokesperson, TAA
"What is ironic about all of this is that we have a government who engaged in climate negotiations, talking about loss and damage and talking about the devastating impacts that climate change has already had on our country. Why, then, are we going back to the conventional way of fossil fuels when we should be looking at alternatives and renewables?"
That same dilemma could explain why the developed nations of the world are still struggling to ween their population off their dependence on fossil fuels.
