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Applying for Interconnection to the Grid

 

The Feed-in tariff (FIT) programme is available to customers with Renewable Energy (RE) technologies, desirous of supplying power to the grid.   It replaces what was known as the Renewable Energy Rider (RER) programme and is available to customers who qualify for the Domestic Service (DS), Employee (EMP), General Service (GS), Secondary Voltage Power (SVP), Large Power (LP) and Time-of-Use (TOU) tariffs. 


Customers under the pre-existing RER programme have been “grandfathered”, i.e. customers will maintain their existing arrangements with BL&P for 20 years, with their systems’ commission date used as the start date. The pre-existing RER terms include the $0.416/kWh rate for solar photovoltaic and $0.315/kWh rate for wind.


On September 24, 2019, the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) issued its decision on FITs for RE technologies up to and including 1 Megawatt (MW) and on September 30, 2020, they issued a decision on FITs above 1MW and up to 10 MW.  Customers under the FIT programme will be billed under a “rider”, which is a special rate that sits on top of a standard tariff and applies only to participants who opt into a programme applicable to the tariff. 

 

For customers with systems below 1 MW, FIT rates are differentiated by size and technology and are available to customers with solar, land-based wind, anaerobic digestion (biogas) and solid biomass technologies. 


For customers above 1 MW, FIT rates are available for customers with solar and land-based wind technologies only.


The applicable rates under the current FIT programme are outlined below: 


Customers 1 MW and below:


These categories and their accompanying rates and capacity allocations will remain in effect until December 31, 2021, or until the expiration of the capacity allotted within the current FIT programme (32.7MW) for a 20-year period.  

 

Technology, Size Category

Oct 1, 2019 - Dec 31, 2021 FIT (BDS cents/KWh)

Oct, 1 2019 - Dec 31, 2021 Allocation MW

Solar, up to 10 KW

42.75

5

Solar, Above 10 KW to 100 KW

44.75

Solar, Above 100 KW to 250 KW

41.75

8

Solar, Above 250 KW to 500 KW

38.25

Solar, Above 500 KW to 1 MW

36.25

12.7

Land-Based Wind up to 10 KW

39.75

3

Land-Based Wind up Above 10 KW up to 1 MW

38.25

Anaerobic Digestion, up to 1 MW

44.25

2

Solid Biomass, up to 1 MW

52.25

2

Total Allocation


32.7

 

Customers above 1 MW up to 10 MW 

All terms of all FITs procured under this decision shall remain constant for the duration of the 20-year contract.   

Technology, Size Category 

Oct 1, 2020 - Mar 31, 2022 FIT (BDS cents/KWh)

Oct 1, 2020 - Mar 31, 2022 Allocation (MW) 

Solar PV, Above 1 MW and up to 5 MW

23.25

30

Land-Based Wind 1 MW and up to 50MW 

22.25

10

Total Allocation 


40


Technology, Size Category 

Oct 1, 2020 - Mar 31, 2021 FIT (BDS cents/KWh)

Oct 1, 2020 - Mar 31, 2021 Allocation (MW) 

Solar PV Above 5 MW and up to 10 MW 

21.75

25

Land-Based Wind Above 5 MW and up to 10 MW

20.25

10

Total Allocation 


35


Visit https://www.ftc.gov.bb/ for more information on the decisions and orders governing the rates above.  


How to Apply for Grid Interconnection


Customers must obtain approval in writing before interconnecting to the company's grid.  They must also demonstrate their ability to meet the company's safety and performance standards and interconnection requirements. The requirements for the application process include:  

  • The submission of an application form
  • A license from the Ministry of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship (MOE) for all systems above 5 KW for residential customers and above 25 KW for commercial customers. Applications for licenses are made directly to the MOE.
  • A single-line diagram (this must be approved by the Government Electrical Engineering Department (GEED) for those applications that require license approval). 
  • A certificate of approval from the GEED.
  • A certificate for general liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $100,000 for RGS up to 10 KW and $500,000 for RGS greater than 10 KW.
  • A signed & witnessed feed-in tariff agreement.
  • The voltage frequency-ride-through (VFRT) settings.  

*NB: The documents above should be submitted along with the application.  Exceptions have been made for the following, which can be submitted after approval if not available at the time of application: 

1. Voltage Frequency Ride Through (VFRT) Settings

2. Certificate of Approval from the Government Electrical Engineering Department

3. The insurance coverage certificate, in the instances where systems are being installed on new buildings, roofs being leased or greenfield sites not linked to an existing building where the Certificate of Insurance showing the requisite liability coverage 


*A connection impact assessment (CIA) conducted by BL&P, is required for RE systems 150KW and above


The diagram below explains the application process:  


Click here to submit an application online.  All queries can be sent to customerservice@blpc.com.bb or 626-4300.     

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