The Energy Transition in Sint Maarten

Sint Maarten, a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is navigating its energy transition with a focus on reducing fossil fuel dependency, improving grid resilience, and strengthening climate adaptation. The island’s current energy mix remains heavily reliant on imported diesel, managed by the Utilities Company of Sint Maarten (GEBE), though policy discussions increasingly prioritise renewable energy development, particularly solar PV and battery storage. While Sint Maarten does not yet have a comprehensive renewable energy law, efforts are underway to encourage private sector participation, rooftop solar adoption, and energy efficiency measures, supported by the wider Dutch Caribbean energy policy and access to potential EU climate finance. There is no domestic production of critical minerals on Sint Maarten, with full reliance on imports for materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements essential for renewable energy systems and battery storage. Key challenges include hurricane vulnerability, regulatory gaps, high infrastructure costs, and limited grid flexibility. However, opportunities lie in distributed solar deployment, smart grid solutions, storage innovation, and Dutch and EU-backed investment channels. Sint Maarten’s strategic policy alignment, emerging renewables focus, and external support position the island to advance its energy transition and enhance long-term energy security and sustainability.