When is navigating uncharted waters & grid interconnections in Curacao?

Michael Ginsberg will present Navigating uncharted waters: Grid interconnections in Curacao during the session dedicated to Island Power: Renewables for Diesel-Powered Utilities on Oct. 14, 2021, 8-10 a.m. MDT. This year’s conference, Powering the New Energy World, includes six separate online sessions over three days.

How much does energy cost in Curacao?

Energy Snapshot Curacao This profile provides a snapshot of the energy landscape of Curacao, an autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands located of the coast of Venezuela. Curacao’s utility rates are approximately $0.26 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), below the Caribbean regional average of $0.33/kWh.

Why does Curacao use wind energy?

Curacao’s long history with wind energy has provided it with valuable experience in integrating variable energy resources into the electrical system while also demonstrating the value of avoiding petroleum-based electricity generation.

Does Curacao have a net metering program?

In 2011, Curacao launched a net metering program for distributed wind and solar generation systems.11 Residential systems smaller than 10 kilowatts (kW) and commercial systems smaller than 100 kW were eligible to participate. At the same time, large commercial customers could apply for a feed-in tariff for systems up to 1 MW in size.

Why is the feed-in tariff unsustainable in Curaçao?

In Curaçao, the feed-in tariff was generous but poorly designed and unsustainable due to the lack of investment in energy storage, distribution transformers and other infrastructure needed to support high penetrations of variable renewable energy. Know who manages renewable energy policy at the utility.

Does Curacao need electricity?

Like many island nations, Curacao is highly dependent on imported fossil fuels (more than 95% of the island’s electricity is generated using petroleum-based fuels), leaving it vulnerable to global oil price fluctuations that directly impact the cost of electricity.