The European Union and Barbados have taken an important step towards a sustainable energy future with the launch of the Renewstable Barbados project. A joint initiative by the EU, Barbados, and leading French companies HDF Energy and Rubis, this green hydrogen storage project aims to integrate solar power with on-site green hydrogen storage to provide a reliable, stable, and clean electricity supply to Barbados.

The Renewstable Barbados project will combine intermittent solar power generation with on-site green hydrogen storage to address a critical weakness in the island’s energy infrastructure. This innovative solution is expected to ensure the provision of clean, resilient, and stable electricity in Barbados as a key part of the country’s energy transition, leveraging cutting-edge European technology. As part of the European Union’s commitment to supporting renewable energy in the Caribbean, the EU has accompanied the project from its inception, providing crucial assistance in developing the business case and finding financiers. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is working alongside the project to offer a combination of guarantees and investment grants.

This launch is a key component of the broader EU-Caribbean energy partnership, which is being further strengthened through the Global Energy Transition Forum (GETF), recently launched by President von der Leyen at Davos. Several Caribbean nations have committed to the ambitious goals of tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency measures by 2030. The EU is already spearheading energy transition projects in 13 Caribbean countries, leveraging European expertise, technology, and financing tools to support the region’s renewable energy goals.