The Energy Transition in Saint Barthélemy

Saint Barthélemy’s energy transition reflects its ambition to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, enhance energy security, and support climate resilience as a French overseas collectivity. The island’s electricity generation remains primarily reliant on imported petroleum, but there is growing focus on renewable energy development, particularly solar PV and small-scale distributed generation. Saint Barthélemy aligns with the broader French Energy Transition Law and benefits from access to EU climate funding and French policy support through multi-year energy planning frameworks. Given its small size and limited grid infrastructure, the island’s strategy emphasises rooftop solar, energy efficiency, and demand-side management rather than large-scale utility projects. There is no domestic production of critical minerals on Saint Barthélemy, with the territory fully reliant on imports for key materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements essential for renewable technologies and storage systems. Core challenges include space constraints, hurricane exposure, and high infrastructure costs, yet opportunities exist in solar expansion, battery storage innovation, and leveraging EU-backed financing mechanisms. Saint Barthélemy’s focus on distributed renewables, strong policy alignment with France, and commitment to sustainability provide a foundation for advancing its energy transition and reinforcing local energy resilience.