The I-TRACK Foundation has approved Saint Lucia for I-REC(E) issuance, following the completion of a country assessment report. The country assessment was undertaken following an engagement initiated by St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC). Approval by the I-TRACK Foundation Board enables renewable electricity generated in the country to be issued with I-REC(E).
I-REC(E) Issuer in Saint Lucia
The Green Certificate Company (GCC) will operate as the Issuer for Saint Lucia. GCC is already responsible for issuing I-REC(E) in several I-REC(E) markets worldwide and serves as the default Issuer when no accredited local Issuer has yet been established.
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia is an Eastern Caribbean island nation. It operates an isolated island electricity system with no cross-border electricity interconnections. The electricity market is managed by St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC), which holds an exclusive license for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. The country’s energy system remains predominantly diesel-based, with installed generation capacity of approximately 95.1 MW and a growing contribution from renewable energy.
Electricity generation in Saint Lucia currently consists primarily of fossil/thermal generation, complemented by solar photovoltaic generation. The country has approximately 6.293 MW of installed solar capacity, including distributed energy resources. A further 10 MW solar PV project with battery energy storage is under development as part of ongoing efforts to modernise the electricity system and increase renewable energy integration.
The electricity sector is overseen by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Ports and Transport through its Energy Division, which is responsible for national energy policy formulation, planning and coordination. Economic regulation of the electricity sector is undertaken by the National Utilities Regulatory Commission (NURC), an independent multi-sector regulator established under the NURC Act No. 3 of 2016. The NURC is responsible for licensing, tariff regulation, service quality standards and regulatory oversight of electricity generation, transmission, distribution and supply.
The electricity market is governed by the Electricity Supply Act (1994), which granted LUCELEC an exclusive license for the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity until 2045. The Electricity Supply (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016 removed LUCELEC’s monopoly on renewable energy generation, allowing independent power producers to participate in renewable electricity generation. The Electricity (Grid Code) Regulations 2022 established technical standards and rules for connection to and operation of the national grid.
Saint Lucia’s National Energy Policy (2023–2030) establishes a vision for a secure, affordable and sustainable energy sector and identifies renewable energy, energy efficiency, grid resilience and private sector participation as key priorities. The country is also progressing renewable energy development through geothermal exploration under the Renewable Energy Sector Development Project, which includes exploratory drilling, environmental and social safeguards and stakeholder consultation.
Current legislation does not explicitly establish a renewable energy certificate system or restrict the use of environmental attribute products. There are currently no existing or planned certificate systems in Saint Lucia that would impact the issuance, transfer or use of I-REC(E). The regulatory environment therefore provides a suitable basis for the implementation of an international renewable electricity attribute tracking system. Additionally, the Government of Saint Lucia has indicated that it has no plans to introduce a separate renewable electricity tracking system and would welcome the I-TRACK Foundation’s efforts to establish an I-REC(E) system.
Demand for renewable electricity certificates is expected from commercial and tourism-related electricity consumers, including hotels, resorts, public sector facilities and other organizations increasingly subject to international sustainability reporting requirements. The introduction of I-REC(E) would support transparent and auditable claims of renewable electricity consumption and facilitate market-based Scope 2 accounting under international reporting frameworks.
The I-TRACK Foundation believes the introduction of I-REC(E)s in Saint Lucia will provide a mechanism to support the country’s transition towards a more sustainable electricity sector by enabling renewable electricity generators and consumers to track and substantiate renewable electricity attributes. I-REC(E) can support emerging demand from tourism and commercial sectors seeking credible renewable electricity claims, while complementing Saint Lucia’s renewable energy development objectives and broader climate commitments.