The World Bank has approved an additional $20 million in financing for the "Haiti: Renewable Energy for All Project." This funding, provided by the International Development Association, is intended to enhance renewable energy investments and improve electricity access across Haiti. The current state of Haiti's electricity sector presents a significant barrier to economic growth and effective emergency responses, with only 47.1 percent of the population having access to electricity as of 2021.
Anne-Lucie Lefebvre, World Bank Country Manager for Haiti, emphasized the importance of energy access: “Access to energy is an essential component in delivering basic services such as health and education, as well as promoting investment and innovation.” She also noted that sustainable energy could help Haiti achieve universal energy access, especially in impoverished remote areas.
The additional financing will enable the Haitian government to increase clean and reliable electricity supply while providing technical support to the National Regulatory Authority for the Energy Sector. This includes developing policies for private sector-driven renewable energy investments. Under its national electrification strategy analysis supported by the World Bank, Haiti plans to expand electricity through solar photovoltaic-based mini grids with storage, micro-grids, and stand-alone solar systems.
This project aims to build between 5 and 12 megawatts of renewable energy capacity using solar panels and battery storage. These efforts are expected to hybridize at least two isolated grids currently reliant on diesel power. Additional resources will be directed toward solar photovoltaic systems for priority hospitals.
The funding from the International Development Association is granted without repayment obligations. The original project began on July 28, 2018, backed by three trust funds totaling $22.5 million from various sources including Climate Investment Funds under SREP and CTF programs and ESMAP.
For further details about this initiative, interested parties can visit www.worldbank.org/haiti or follow their social media channels on Facebook, Twitter (@WBCaribbean), and YouTube.