Plans to Get POWER (Renewable Power) to Ambergris Caye and All Belize
Utilities are not generally a “hot topic” of conversation unless there is a problem. And recently, on Ambergris Caye, there has been a problem. A few weeks ago, we hit MAX CAPACITY—the amount supplied to the island by our “extension cord”—the submarine cable that brings electricity to the caye from mainland Belize.
Power went out. First a planned outage for half of the island and then…unplanned for most of the island. Residents quickly became aware that we had maxed out. The heat, the development, the record numbers for tourism were too much for the system.
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Since then, we have been getting daily reminders—on hot days, we get more than one—about where we are collectively when it comes to power usage. We can receive up to 17.3MW. THAT’S THE CUTOFF NUMBER!
Here’s an update we got on the BEL Updates Facebook page yesterday. (The weather had cooled off a bit)
So, as you can imagine, there is quite a buzz about electricity now. About resorts with large generator systems, about what some might call “unchecked development”, why hasn’t Belize Electricity planned for this?
SO…when I saw there would be a public meeting to share information (I HEART TRANSPARENCY) about the Electric System, the grid and future plans, I was all in.
I headed to the meeting – and there were about 40 folks from local government (SPTC and Minister Andre Perez), a few real estate agents, media and just interested folks and here’s a summary of what I learned.
There was a presentation by Mr Gomez of the Public Utilities Commission (they oversee and regulate Power, Water and Telecom in Belize), a representative of BEL (Belize Electricity Limited) and a social and environmental scientist.
I’ll start with the headline! There is a plan – in fact THREE plans – to provide power to the island.
Short Term: By the end of May – a mobile gas turbine will be installed and running by the port/San Pedro lagoon side of the island to provide an electricity backup (this is temporary) until the other measures online.
Medium Term: The World Bank is providing a loan to install back-up battery systems in San Pedro, Orange Walk, Dangriga and Ladyville. This will take about one year to complete. The batteries can charge when usage in low and power (especially from Mexico) is cheap! They can provide up to 5 hours of power for the entire island.
Long-term: This will take about 2 years to complete. A second submarine cable will be laid to the north side of Ambergris Caye (I’m not sure where), so 17.3MW is not our limit.
Other things that I learned at the meeting:
- San Pedro/the island has far exceeded the forecasts made by BEL in 2022. Growth was forecast at about 3% a year and…electricity usage has exploded since then. What was forecast for 2042 (the 20-year projection at the time, is not expected for 2028)
- 2022 Peak Demand for the country of Belize was 109MW, 2023 was 127MW and we’ve already reached that in 2024
- Factor: Heat/temperature increase more than expected, development more than expected, tourism and the “COVID bounce” way more than expected
- Much of this is directed and driven by the international summits – COP26 and COP28 – the UN Meetings on Climate Change
- Belize has committed to: Renewable energy being no less than 75% of total supply by 2030 – this one is very doable since we are currently at 57%. Hydroelectric is our top producer and burning biomass (sugar cane) is another. Belize is looking into other wastes…from the lumber industry, banana industry, citrus (I was practically screaming SARGASSUM…but I know that it is pretty dirty…heavy metals, plastic from the ocean…)
- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is providing money (zero interest loans) for solar panels/solar generation which will come on-line in the next decade
Questions that I did NOT get to follow up on – I had to sneak out at about 815 to drive home! I will follow up with the PUC and try to get answers. And update you guys next week.
- The system is going to change to allow solar energy from homes and businesses to go back into the grid. Hooray! I know people have been calling for that for years. I am not sure when that is going to happen.
- Here is the graphic showing solar and wind coming online. Where are these facilities going to be? Who is building these facilities? Private companies?
- What sort of subsidies will be provided at the consumer level? They mentioned that just switching from incandescent light bulbs to LEDs would make a huge difference…what about cheaper solar panels for homes.
That’s it for now. Let me know if you have any questions. I am glad to know that there is a plan.
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Thank you, Rebecca! This is super news!
My house produces excess solar energy, but we have to dump the excess instead of making it available to the rest of the caye. Solar powers my golf cart, too. If BEL were to buy excess solar, perhaps solar systems would be more affordable.
The other big factor is reducing or eliminating import duties on solar panels and other renewable energy imports. How could we reduce the taxes on renewable energy-related imports?
It’s the part I’m most interested in! The solar feeding back into the grid. WHen!
And yet again Placencia is the arm pit of the country, World Bank got no money for my Belizean friends yet their problems are damsure as big as Orange Walk
A reporter and a superblogger. I love reading your stories.
I hope to hear more about the future of Belize and its self sustainability. I agree that it’s totally feasible and Costa Rica comes to mind.
Solar powered golf carts!!!!!!!
Especially with gas prices around $13 a gallon. We definitely need grants/tax breaks to get as many solar panels in this country as possible!
Hi Rebecca. We were also there (sitting right behind you). Unfortunately, our questions about immediate supply (we are building a non solar house in the South) were not addressed. Unfortunately after you left the organisers wanted everyone to split into groups to discuss the information supplied rather than answer questions. It was great to hear their 2 year, 5 year and 20 year plans but it reminds me of Mike Tyson’s quote that every boxer has a plan until they are hit in the mouth.
I was there for the session – but snuck out during the presentations. I didn’t understand why we were discussing issues we know nothing about but it was nice to meet/chat with my group. Was there a Q&A after that? Or was it just getting too too late.
Great information, thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks for the info
No problem 🙂
Interesting…BEL has come up with a 2, 5, and 20 year plan for upgrading the power grid on Ambergris Caye ….when did the light come on for them…yesterday ?
Unbelievable….where were these guys 5 years ago, 3 years ago, even last year….it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that with the incredible amount of land development going on around the island, and the complete lack of planning and foresight in upgrading infastructure on the island to accomodate this development, that something was going to hit a wall at some point….not just electrical…but water, sewage, and garbage will be next.
The Government has this great plan to go 100% green power by 2030…yet it continues to implement parallizingly high duties, tariffs and taxes on all the equipment needed to 100% green power…..abuh ?…are you kidding me? Totally contradictory message. Just price out a solar system, ask your contractor why things are so expensive, and they will tell you.
The GOB needs to give their head a shake, wake up, show some leadership in regards to this island.
The rate of development happening on Ambergrise Caye is not sustainable both infastructure wise, and environmentally.
The cracks are starting to show….it will get worse.
Take what you want, leave the rest.
Yay, long term green energy plans. But I don’t understand why every new building and house isn’t required to install solar and/or wind turbines? The island is mostly sunny or windy 24/7.
For example Alaia Resort, an outsized island monstrosity and ugly with 1000’s of square feet of fake grass glued to it’s exterior reaching 6 stories high. If Alaia had been required to install rooftop solar and wind turbines people might look and think, oh I get it – Alaia is a green energy resort. But instead, Alaia sits there sucking up energy, then firing up their diesel generators when necessary, while everyone else suffers.
Yay, long term green energy plans. But I don’t understand why every new building and house isn’t required to install solar and/or wind turbines? The island is mostly sunny or windy 24/7.
For example Alaia Resort, an outsized island monstrosity and ugly with 1000’s of square feet of fake grass glued to it’s exterior reaching 6 stories high. If Alaia had been required to install rooftop solar and wind turbines people might look and think, oh I get it – Alaia is a green energy resort. But instead, Alaia sits there sucking up energy, then firing up their diesel generators when necessary, while everyone else suffers.
Yep…see my comments; lack of leadership, governance, and foresight….inmates are ruling the asylm
the wave action of the reef could probably supply Belize with elect. for the next….oh-say….
a million years.
I don’t think any countries are using it yet…still being perfected so for now, that’s wishful thinking.
Good idea: just set it up in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve channel. Lotta current, lol, there. And of course, rope it off to keep the tourists away. They’re just muckin’ up the place anyway.
Any mention of electricity to Secret Beach in the plans?
You don’t want offshore wind! It industrializes the ocean! Destroying one ecological system to help another is not green
I don’t know enough about it – the ocean seems pretty industrialized to me! I guess it’s about trade-offs. But thankfully we have vast swaths of open land here in Belize – much of the north is very very low lying lagoons and mangroves…i know they could find some place!