The initiative from APUA is a welcoming one. I am sure many citizens would take preference to this opportunity. However i would have hope that this would have been encouraged one year ago, when all the concessions were waved to pave the way for this initiative. Another cause for concern: APUA is in the business of selling electricity. If 30-40% of the nation decide to get on board with this initiative, what will be APUA position when the WPP moratorium expires and debt service begins? Would'nt this be another burden on APUA with less income incured and a larger expenditure? I would have hope that APUA would have been the one to lead by example with this green gas initiative, since air polution is a major concern in todays environment. Its quite unfortunate that APUA who had the opportunity to make recommendation for Govt to invest into a renewable energy plant for the benefit of the nation. However they did not. We are stuck with a HFO power plant that obviously have many mechanical challenges and i am of the opinion that this power plant will be a major financial burden on tax payers. Time will tell.

Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock. That you have flown on the upper currents like an eagle to spot the weakness of your prey flying below pays dividends.
There are a few things to be considered: the present efficiency of the electrical grid given its age, preventive maintenance and lack of capital upgrades since it was designed, developed and constructed; the quality of electrical power being transmitted through the grid; The Black Start equipment, structure & system at the Chinese financed, designed, constructed, managed & operated Electrical Power Plant.
Wind Power generated Electricity; Solar Heated domestic hot water. Photvoltaic Cell generated electricity - Temperature:
Solar cells work best at low temperatures, as determined by their material properties. All cell materials lose efficiency as the operating temperature rises. Much of the light energy shining on cells becomes heat. These were designed for the temperate zone - not the tropics. Much more research is needed.
APUA must develop its Strategy in concert with GoAB and the major commercial & industrial consumers.
Heaven Help and Bring Electricity Success to the Nation Of Antigua & Barbuda.

We've discussed this issue many moons ago on this forum and it is very encouraging to see some attentions being given to the issue. In addition to tax incentives/brea ks, energy buyback, technical support etc, it would be great if the gov't can sit with the experts and draft a detailed plan to present to the UN to get some of the benefits that they give out annually to support these ventures. Just a thought.

so will all this green technology be allowed in TOTALLY tax & duty free ???

@GODFATHER, you are absolutely correct China is leading the world Renewable Energy (RE). So why the hell did we buy the WPP from the Chinese? SMH.

. . . and customer would like APUA to stop taking so much of their "GREEN" each month.

Getting permission to generate your own power is living proof that the new generators that APUA now have cannot and will not be able to supply us with the needed power to run this country. Government dont give up revenue streams that easily. Read between the lines!!!

SteadyJ you are right:
Quote:

Government has waived all taxes and duties for 28 imported items needed to generate renewable energy in an effort to encourage more residents to buy into its initiative to reduce the country’s dependency on fossil fuels. The policy decision made by Cabinet last month extends to solar powered items such as panels, water heaters, pumps, hot water storage tanks, cells and photovoltaic modules. Also, charge controllers, surge protectors, lighting protectors, inverters and rectifiers as well as wind and hydro turbine accessories will no longer attract the Antigua & Barbuda Sales Tax, the Revenue Recovery Charge or a levy. Head of the Energy Desk Ambassador Joan Underwood told The Daily OBSERVER, “the finance ministry has received the policy decision but we will now have to sit and prepare the administrative procedures for accessing the concessions”.Observer News - Saturday, June 4th, 2011

I take it that the above article now confirms that the admin procedures are now in place after June last year?
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Steadyj the information I got from an electrician yesterday is there will be no net metering, atleast for consumer profits. It will simply be an exchange. You will get back in electricity what you give but there will be no $ refunds

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Everyone know that everything these days are manufactured is made in China. What I trying to people very careful when purchasing a critical piece of equipment such a grid tie inverter, which is the most important piece in an RE system, especially in place such as Antigua where there are frequent power outages. Since everything is made in China there cheap knock off all over the internet.

Steady, China is the leader in solar technology manufacturing, and the same inverter you mentioned maybe manufactured in China but branded under a U.S company. Many countries collaborate with China solar manufacturers, so to allude the product is inferior is a grave mistake.

After purchasing a generating that is very much not environmentally friendly and not very cost efficient, they coming to tell us that we must go green, which i must add is not a bad thing, however it would have been nice to have shown us the example by doing it first.

I agree with you that there has to be coordinated effort with regards to waiver of import duties on renewable energy equipment at customs. I think that there might be something in place already when Ambassador Underwood was heading up the energy taskforce.

I did not see any reference to “net metering” in the APUA documentation. Hopefully their policy pay the customer the full retail value for the electricity is put back on the APUA grid.

As word caution to anyone is considering installing system, please stay away from the cheap Chinese Inverters. Get an inverter from a reputable company such as SMA, or Outback that is actually IEEE 1547.1 certified. If not, you run the risk of burning your house or Business down.

A move in the right directions, releasing consumers dependency on oil to explore renewable energy. This challenge to consumer will lessen governments commitment to APC, eventually reducing government expenditure considerably.

I recall government's earlier decision regarding exclusive tax reduction for people utilizing solar energy renewable benefit. So, congratulation to the management of APUA for realizing the benefits to consumer.

Sounds good but unless backed up by 0 import taxes, it will be a leap too high for many. If apua was all into green why limit it to 50kw? Seems to me that apua should encourage enterprising persons to supply the government with energy. Its strange how only certain persons can get tax free exrmptions but not the massed. This again reminds that don Mitchell recomendation of establishing an energy policy, is not being followed.

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A step in the right direction, and I will have more to say when read the APUA guidelines.

Better late than never,finally we can come out of the dark age and let innovative minds be put to work to reduce our dependence and addiction on the black gold.
Only God knows,that as I drove on independence drive last week and saw the bencorp building with all those glass windows I could only imagine and wish they were solar panels for APUA to be the leader in promoting the awareness of sustainable energy by atleast harnessing the solar energy using the PV system to power the whole of that building to atleast jump start the green revolution in Antigua.
I feel so happy to live to see a dream come true.
Sustainable and clean energy will foster economic growth,improve energy security,opport unities for improved lives and a path to prosperity.