Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum advances renewable power and electric mobility in Kingston

Caribbean leaders and energy specialists met in Kingston on 17 June 2026 for the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum, held at the AC Hotel Kingston, to advance discussion on renewable power and electric vehicle adoption across the region.

Interest in climate action has risen sharply worldwide over the past two decades, with Caribbean governments increasingly seeking practical tools to respond. Renewable energy and cleaner transport have emerged as central priorities, as stakeholders work to expand clean power across agriculture, manufacturing, and households while addressing gaps in local electric-mobility expertise.

Forum participants stressed that consumers are more likely to shift away from petrol vehicles when transport costs fall and charging becomes simpler. Governments and institutions such as the Caribbean Development Bank were urged to strengthen public understanding of how individual choices support wider climate targets, pairing personal savings with broader environmental benefits.

On electric mobility, speakers noted that many regulatory and standards challenges have already been addressed in Europe, China, Oceania, and North America. The Caribbean's task, they said, is to study those models and adapt them regionally. CREEE and CARICOM have developed a regional electric vehicle strategy intended to identify where policy and regulation are needed and to draw on lessons from markets such as Barbados, Jamaica, and The Bahamas that are further along the transition.

Women's participation in planning and delivering energy projects was highlighted as essential, given that women are often the primary users of household energy for cooking, cleaning, and other daily needs.

In Jamaica, the cost of charging an electric vehicle depends heavily on electricity rates. Jamaica Public Service Company time-of-use pricing encourages drivers to charge later at night to ease grid pressure during peak hours. Modern vehicles and charging stations allow owners to schedule charging — for example, after 10:00 p.m. when rates are lower.

Experts also noted that electric transport is only as clean as the power source supplying it. Distributed solar generation through panels and inverters, however, can further reduce emissions linked to vehicle use.

The forum reflected growing regional momentum to expand solar energy and cleaner mobility as part of wider efforts to protect the environment.