The Caribbean is moving forward with determination toward a new energy era marked by innovation, sustainability, and resilience. The region stands at a historic turning point, where challenges are transforming into opportunities to reshape its energy matrix and strengthen economic independence.
Today, more than 70% of the Caribbean’s primary energy comes from oil a context that drives countries in the region to accelerate their transition toward cleaner, more diversified, and secure energy sources.
This process runs parallel to a growing commitment to enhancing resilience to climate change, strengthening electrical infrastructure and social systems against increasingly intense natural phenomena.
According to the publication “Navigating the Energy Transition in the Caribbean” by the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), electric systems are undergoing a full modernization phase. Although there is still room for improvement in efficiency, countries such as Jamaica and the Dominican Republic are already leading grid digitalization, with more than 50% of their smart systems in operation. This progress reflects a paradigm shift in regional energy management, where technology is becoming the driving force of development.
Digitalization and diversification are the pillars of this transformation. Initiatives based on automation, artificial intelligence, and satellite monitoring such as those developed in Suriname, demonstrate the enormous potential of innovation to optimize grids, reduce losses, and ensure continuity of supply. At the same time, the expansion of solar and wind energy, along with large-scale storage systems, is paving the way toward a cleaner, more inclusive, and competitive energy model.
In this effort, regional cooperation is essential. OLADE promotes strategic alliances with CARICOM and the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) to foster electric interconnection projects, regional auctions, and shared financing mechanisms aimed at reducing costs, strengthening energy security, and accelerating decarbonization.
With innovative public policies, sustainable investments, and a shared vision, the Caribbean now has the opportunity to become a global benchmark for climate resilience, demonstrating that a sustainable energy future can be built through cooperation, technology, and the determination of its people.
