Radio Caribbean International (RCI) published an announcement on October 4th, in which EDF (Électricité de France) unveiled its ambitious plan to decarbonize electricity production across all of its island territories by 2033. This move is set to transform the energy landscape of several regions, including La Réunion, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy, French Guiana, Corsica, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, and the Ponant islands. While EDF’s commitment to sustainability is commendable, it has raised concerns about the potential implications for Dominica’s plans to export renewable energy to its neighbouring islands, Guadeloupe and Martinique.
EDF SEI (Insular Energy Systems) is a significant player in the energy sector and operates the electricity grids in these territories. The company’s announcement underscores its commitment to achieving 100% renewable or near-renewable energy in all its territories, except Corsica, which benefits from energy interconnections with Sardinia and Italy, thereby complicating EDF’s control over its energy mix.
The decarbonization initiative, known as “Emerald,” represents an ambitious target that encompasses all energy producers under EDF’s umbrella. EDF’s CEO, Frédéric Maillard, shared details of this project, including plans to convert existing thermal power plants into facilities that use liquid biomass derived from rapeseed oil, (of which the European Union is the largest producer) rather than fossil fuels.
Mr. Maillard emphasized the exclusion of biomass production based on soy or palm oil, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. This is because the production of these two crops in the tropics involve the destruction of the tropical forests which are the world’s biggest carbon sinks.
The first thermal power plant set to undergo conversion is Port-Est in La Réunion, with the transition expected to be completed in the coming weeks. EDF’s overarching goal, scheduled for completion by 2030, is to reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 2.5 million tons annually, significantly improving air quality by eliminating sulphur emissions and reducing dust emissions by fourfold.
While EDF’s efforts towards decarbonization are commendable, concerns have arisen regarding the impact of these changes on Dominica’s plans to export renewable energy, primarily geothermal power, to the neighbouring islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. These export plans were seen as a significant opportunity for Dominica to harness its natural resources and foster economic development.
However, with EDF’s islands moving towards renewable energy self-sufficiency, this raises questions about the demand for external energy sources, potentially affecting Dominica’s economic projections.
As discussions continue and the energy landscape evolves, stakeholders in Dominica, Guadeloupe, and Martinique will be closely monitoring the implications of EDF’s decarbonization plans, as they could reshape the energy dynamics of the entire region.
EDF’s ambitious decarbonization plans signal a significant step toward a sustainable energy future. Still, they also underscore the complexities surrounding energy interdependencies in the Caribbean and highlight the need for careful coordination and planning among neighbouring islands to ensure a smooth transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.
I give up on us. Its over! So they are drilling wells, polluting our the little villages, destroying natural resources, using Eminent Domain to take peoples land with little to no compensation, all to sell electricity neighboring island? I mean how dumb is that. why are people not protesting in the streets.
The crap about Dominica Supplying Guadeloupe, and Martinique with electricity, is only a myth a bottle!
That is a very stupid fantasy; it is a simple a matter of Roosevelt labor party blowing off hot steam; talking about when their geothermal plant finish they are going to sell electricity to both islands.
The stupid supporters, red devils like to hear that, but what their leaders are not informing them is that both Guadeloupe, and Martinique has geothermal operating plants.
If that were to ever happen, they they cannot transmit current in the air ; hence it must travel via under water in protected cased cables; the Chanel between the three islands are extremely rough, so by the time even without strong gale winds and hurricane, the transmissions lines would be constantly damaged!
We know submarine power cable is a transmission cable for carrying electric power below the surface of the water. These are called “submarine” because they usually carry electric power beneath salt…
Aas papa Bodier I really do not know what it will take for Dominicans to understand that Roosevelt Skerrit is a scammer and everything he says or does is a SCAM. His CBI passport sale is a Scam. The so called geothermal is a damn scam. The new Ross university is a scam; his so called international airport is a scam :Everything the man is involved in is a damn scam
LC Matthew has a point
Before thinking of providing electricity to other islands, let us see first if DA will be self-sufficient !!
And when this is the case, yes, let’s take advantage of it to develop industries and provide labor
PS : A state ( France or others ) is always reluctant to depend on another one for its energy supply
( see what happened to EU with the Russian war in Ukraine )
it is all about d
eception and lies. Fool the masses because the masses love being fooled. Every body looking to reduce cost of energy by building production capacity and efficiency. Dominica looking to export electricity even though they have neither built their own generation plants yet. 
Now thst is our height of stupidity
So, what has all of that have to do with Dominica? Dominica is not part of any French territory, Dominica doesn’t have any connection to the company or entity involved.
By 2030 Dominica might be back in darkness as it was prior to the 1950’s. Rather than featuring, and celebrating progressiveness in in another’s country we should be talking about DOMLEC inability to properly supply the nation with electricity.
People should be demanding that waste of time Bajan rubbish collection company to replace all the rusted leaking smoking Transformers, which are helping to spread cancer in the country!
Roosevelt Skerritt must go.
Which country or island in the world would be crazy enough to rely on a Dominica 🇩🇲 who’s relying on China for everything? Thank you France 🇫🇷 leave them try to make clouds look like smoke. Before the hen s… they say is eggs.
This government’s mode of operation is to promise Dominicans a life of heaven on earth. All of these fanciful promises have never passed the stage of conception.
The present state of affairs in the country is menacingly dire. The state of the economy, healthcare, electrical power, water supply, agriculture, manufacturing, environment, salaries & wages, national debt, airlift, national security, social programs, rule of law, is outstandingly depressing.
As a last ditch effort to appease the gullible, this regime is beating its chest about geothermal energy as if it’s a done deal. Like so many promising projects this government has dangled in the minds of the citizenry, geothermal is just another pipe dream.
I am not even sure why DNO bothered to print that story. Why would they be concerned when, after many years and $150 million down the drain, we are still starved for electric power.
The idea of exporting electricity to Martinique and Guadeloupe sounds great but is a terrible idea. Why would any country put thier dependency on energy generation in another country where they have no control of internal conditions. That is a risk right there. If conditions in dominica change it is affecting your productivity.
Dominica would be better off using available power to attract light to medium size high tech manufacturing industries. Create jobs in private sector and export. That is more effective use of power. The first thing it’s to maximize use in adding productivity at home grow the darn country private sector. That old plantation mentality of export raw goods has to stop. let the companies see Dominica as a destination set up shop. Transmission of electricity under water is to expensive for an energy source not certain or proven. we need people with commonsense vision and not superficial optics.
Except for Texas, the electric grid is interconnected between Canada and the US. They trade power as any commodity. Power can flow back and forth depending on supply and demand at any moment in time. This is nothing new.
It may be practical BTW canada and the USA where there are some cities that on the border and the utility companies do PPAs that make financial sense. Most of the grids are inter connected. I would not start comparing Canada and US with Dominica and French territories. It does not mean what works in NA will work home. our legislation are weak to no existence.
My point was not whether it made sense or was practical. I was just pointing out that it was possible.
Everything is possible. I am not disputing the possibility. the question is at what cost? Is it the best use? is it feasible? eg Dominica can have ambition to send a man to the moon. Russia did it, US did it, India China Brazil trying. It is great accomplishment. so Dominica now find it can build rockets you think we should try send man to moon now because all these countries did? it is a possibility but would be a dumb idea. See our folks need to have critical thinking. what dominica needs is jobs for the youth. good paying and sustainable. Cheap reliable energy brings that. industrial park in Possi and cane field. if we do not have workers then other caricom nationals can fly in. increase airlines. increase FDI, low unemployment. I would suggest power generation used mainly to add much needed value to every raw material. We should aim to ship nothing that’s not processed. China is our friend they have all the tech we could learn at state college instead of teaching Confucius.
Domlec and gov of dominica sure do not have the funds and money run underwater transmission to Guadeloupe and Martinique. at this point they are not able to do new distribution from the proposed geothermal to the rest of dominica without huge debt. Not me saying. The cost for under water in the channels BTW the three islands will be a beast. geothermal would have to be proven reliable for next 50 years. Any down time would be terrible on paying back that cost. Shouting we can export is just words to appease public who don’t understand past thier nose. if for slightest possibility it was done what do you think French would do with that power. Do you think they would spend all that money just to light people homes and street lights?
Boy that exporting energy crap was a lie from the beginning or it was just some promise they made without even understanding what that would entail. Mind you those promises were made long before drilling had even begun, over 10 years ago. After over a decade of talk and little movement here and there we still don’t have so much as a kilowatt being produced for our own consumption (which we desperately need right now) much less for exporting to other countries
It is not such a terrible idea; it more or less talk to impress the gullible! Both Martinique and Guadalupe have Geothermal electricity generating plants for years!
A few years ago the same waste of time the corrupted crook Roosevelt Skerrit sent some idiots to Guadalupe to they say to how it operates.
They returned to Dominica with their hungry full of Guadalupe food, and nothing about their mission was heard.
One should wonder why would someone who have something, such as electricity, not suffering any shortages, buy the same.
I’ve never heard of anyone said there is a problem of power shortage on any of the two French islands Martinique and Guadalupe which are “Dependent, Departments of France.”
The government of France takes care of its colonies! This thing in Dominica will never come to fruition; Roosevelt is cursed, anything he touches dies and turns to ashes, and washes away!
When dirt turns to dust in wind it accumulates somewhere else and returns to solid mata!
boy look kix them man in Dominica talking about exporting geothermal energy that not even up and running in Dominica and look now them in France checking hold on we want to be self sufficient we do want allu electricity