The Energy Transition in Sint Eustatius

Sint Eustatius, a special municipality of the Netherlands, is actively pursuing its energy transition as part of the broader Dutch Caribbean energy strategy, focusing on reducing fossil fuel dependency and improving energy resilience. Historically reliant on imported diesel for power generation, the island has made notable progress with the development of hybrid energy systems combining solar PV arrays and battery storage, operated by the Statia Utility Company (STUCO). These systems have significantly reduced diesel consumption and enhanced energy security, supporting the government’s long-term ambition to transition towards 100% renewable electricity generation. There is no domestic production of critical minerals on Sint Eustatius, with the island fully dependent on imports for key materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements necessary for renewable technologies and energy storage solutions. Core challenges include limited land availability, high infrastructure costs, hurricane vulnerability, and small grid capacity. However, opportunities lie in expanding solar capacity, optimising battery storage, and leveraging support from the Netherlands and EU climate finance. Sint Eustatius’ steady progress in renewable deployment, backed by Dutch policy alignment and innovation in hybrid systems, positions the island as a leading example of small-scale, resilient clean energy transition in the Caribbean.