The Energy Transition in Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe’s energy transition is closely aligned with France’s national decarbonisation strategy, as the island is an overseas department of France and part of the European Union. The current energy mix includes a combination of imported fossil fuels, geothermal, solar PV, wind, and biomass, with renewables supplying around 22% of electricity generation. The island hosts one of the Caribbean’s only operational geothermal plants at Bouillante, providing baseload renewable power. Guadeloupe’s Multi-Year Energy Programme (PPE) sets ambitious targets to achieve 50% renewable energy by 2030, focusing on scaling geothermal capacity, offshore wind, and battery storage to stabilise the grid and reduce diesel use. There is no domestic production of critical minerals, with full dependency on imports for essential materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements required for renewable technologies and energy storage systems. Key challenges include hurricane vulnerability, intermittency of renewables, and the need for further grid modernisation. However, Guadeloupe benefits from EU funding, French government support, and regional cooperation via CARICOM and OECS. The island’s established geothermal sector, clear policy direction, and access to European climate financing position Guadeloupe as a regional leader in renewable energy deployment and energy resilience.