CUC calls for more capacity to Grand Cayman’s supply

Cayman Compass

CUC issues urgent request to supply more power

The Caribbean Utilities Company has issued a new proposal to swiftly address a pending shortage in Cayman’s power supply and to allow large-scale solar and battery projects to be considered as part of the mix.

Cayman is looking to add around 50% additional power supply to the grid to meet growing demand.

Initially, a decision from the Utility Regulation and Competition Office, known as URCO or OfReg, indicated the additional power would have to come through diesel generation, which was the only means considered to be “firm capacity”. But CUC appealed that decision in court, and following an out-of-court settlement, it was agreed that a combination of solar power and batteries could also qualify as “firm capacity”.

The electricity company has now gone back to the regulator with a new “certificate of need”, which it released publicly on 19 Sept.