The Energy Transition in Netherlands Antilles

Although the Netherlands Antilles as a political entity was dissolved in 2010, its successor jurisdictions, Curaçao, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, and Saba—continue to pursue distinct yet related energy transition pathways under the umbrella of the Dutch Kingdom. Across these islands, energy systems remain primarily dependent on imported fossil fuels, but renewable energy development—particularly solar PV and wind—has been actively promoted, with Bonaire and Curaçao showing notable progress through operational wind farms and solar installations. Each island operates under local energy policies, guided and supported by broader Dutch Caribbean Energy Policy frameworks and access to EU climate finance. There is no domestic production of critical minerals across these territories, with complete reliance on imports for key materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements needed for renewable energy technologies and storage systems. Shared challenges include hurricane vulnerability, small market sizes, grid integration issues, and financing limitations. However, opportunities lie in offshore wind potential, distributed energy solutions, storage innovation, and continued partnership with the Netherlands and the EU. The collective focus on energy diversification, climate resilience, and renewable deployment positions the former Netherlands Antilles jurisdictions as emerging leaders in the Caribbean’s clean energy transition landscape.