In a strategic move to enhance national energy security, Saint Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) has repurposed the decommissioned Union Power Station into a critical standby facility. This initiative marks a significant step in fortifying the island’s electrical infrastructure against potential disruptions.
The Union facility, once a cornerstone of northern Saint Lucia’s power supply, was rendered obsolete in 1990 when the centralized Cul De Sac Power Station became the nation’s sole generation source. Alongside its southern counterpart in Vieux Fort, the Union plant was phased out due to operational limitations from aging infrastructure and insufficient capacity.
Recent reactivation efforts have transformed the site into a reliability asset. Ormond Reece, LUCELEC’s Senior Planning Manager, confirmed the station now serves as emergency capacity to satisfy regulatory mandates requiring uninterrupted service even during major generator failures. “This investment ensures LUCELEC meets its statutory obligation to maintain sufficient, reliable capacity,” Reece stated to St. Lucia Times.
The standby capacity also supports grid stability during renewable energy integration. Reece emphasized that “it helps reduce the risk of system interruptions and supports a more stable grid as renewable integration continues.”
This development coincides with broader regional energy modernization. The World Bank recently approved a $131.87 million Caribbean Efficient and Green Energy Buildings Project, encompassing Saint Lucia, Grenada, and Guyana. The initiative targets reduced fossil fuel dependence through retrofitting 500 public buildings with energy-efficient technologies and solar panels, aiming for minimum 20% energy savings.
However, legislative progress faced setbacks. The Electricity Supply Bill, designed to enable independent renewable power producers, stalled in Parliament after stakeholders requested extended review time for the complex legislation. The proposed framework maintains LUCELEC’s grid control while allowing third-party generation, acknowledging the market’s limited size for competing infrastructure.
Looking forward, LUCELEC advances its 10MW solar farm on the southeast coast with full construction approval. Bidding for the project opens January 16, 2026, with construction anticipated by Q2 2026. Concurrently, the company will develop an Integrated Resource and Resiliency Plan through a multi-stakeholder process to guide Saint Lucia’s energy transition aligned with National Energy Policy goals.