Solar Energy in Trinidad and Tobago Market

Solar Energy in Trinidad & Tobago Market Analysis

The Trinidad And Tobago Solar Energy Market size in terms of installed base is expected to grow from 17.52 megawatt in 2025 to 703.62 megawatt by 2030, at a CAGR of 109.3% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

• Over the medium term, factors such as rising environmental concerns, energy security, and increasing focus on renewable energy are expected to be the major drivers for the market.
• On the other hand, the country had one of the lowest electricity rates in the region due to its abundance of natural fossil fuel reserves. This further translates into restraining the growth of renewable energy sources such as solar energy.
• Nevertheless, various government initiatives are expected to create a significant amount of opportunities in the market. For instance, under Vision 2030, the government of Trinidad and Tobago pledged to incorporate renewable energy into the country's electricity mix, further rendering tenders and economic incentives for solar energy installations.

Solar Energy in Trinidad & Tobago Market Trends

Increasing Demand for Clean Electricity Generation Expected to Drive the Market

• The electricity generation mix in Trinidad and Tobago is dominated by fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, and diesel. In 2021, the country's primary energy consumption was around 0.59 exajoules, and in 2021, the country consumed 0.61 exajoules of energy, such as natural gas and oil. The government is making efforts to meet the increasing electricity consumption with cleaner energy sources such as solar.
• Increasing demand for clean and stable energy is expected to be the primary driver for the solar power generation market in the country. The country has been one of the most active countries in the region concerning policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and aim toward cleaner energy.
• Rooftop solar offers the benefits of modern electricity services to households with no access to grid electricity. It reduces electricity costs on islands and other remote locations dependent on oil-fired generation and enables residents and small businesses to generate electricity.
• Using local energy sources or distributed generation reduces energy losses due to line loss, i.e., the power lost in the transmission and distribution of electricity over long distances.
• Supporting government initiatives has also aided the country's solar energy market growth. Therefore, the aforementioned factors are expected to drive the market during the forecast period.

Lack of Investments to Restrain the Market

• There has been a significant lack of investments by foreign and domestic companies in the country's renewable energy sector. This has hampered the development of utility-size solar projects in the country. Due to the lack of investments, the country's solar capacity has remained stagnant between 2-4 MW since 2010, and in 2022 also, the installed capacity was around 4 MW.
• Renewable energy projects in Trinidad and Tobago have been limited to the pilot scale. One of the country's huge barriers against renewable energy penetration is the heavily subsidized fuel and electricity that creates an uncompetitive economic environment for renewable energy technologies.
• The electricity generated from fossil fuel sources such as natural gas or oil is comparatively cheaper. In September 2022, the cost of electricity was nearly 0.052 USD per kWh for households and 0.053 USD for businesses, including all components of the electricity bill, such as the cost of power, distribution, and taxes. At the same time, the average price of electricity in the world for the same period is around 0.170 USD per kWh for households and 0.191 USD for businesses. The low prices limit the companies to invest in any other source of electricity within the country.
• Therefore, the lack of investments, particularly in utility-scale solar projects, is expected to be a major restraint for the solar power market in the country.

Solar Energy in Trinidad & Tobago Industry Overview

The Trinidad and Tobago solar energy market is moderately consolidated. Some major companies operating in the market (not in particular order) include AIMS Power, Resscott Ltd, Trifactor Technical Sales and Services Ltd, SolarWorld-tt, and AMBA Energy Limited., among others.

Solar Energy in Trinidad & Tobago Market Leaders

Solar Energy in Trinidad & Tobago Market News

• April 2023: BP and Shell broke ground on Trinidad and Tobago's first utility-scale solar project at Brechin Castle. The 112MWac solar project comprised two sites, Orange Grove and Brechin Castle. The project is estimated to generate around 300,000 MWh of clean electricity per year, sufficient to power the equivalent of 42,500 homes and help to reduce carbon emissions.
• December 2022: The government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GoRTT) and the consortium partners, Lightsource, bp, Shell, and BP, announced receiving a green light for Trinidad and Tobago's first large-scale solar project with a capacity of 112 MWac/148 MWp.