Français
Although the Collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy has had "energy" powers since 2007, when it became a Collectivité, it is nonetheless dependent on decisions made by the highest authorities in France in certain areas. At the very least, they are based on established standards and rates. This is particularly the case when it comes to the purchase price of surplus energy produced by solar photovoltaic panel installations.
So, since November 2022 and a meeting with the management of the Commission de Régulation de l'Energie (Cre), the Collectivité has been requesting a specific decree setting the buy-back price for this energy. To do this, however, the island had to be equipped with the new digital meters. At the time, this was not the case. Today, 100% of these new-generation meters have been installed on Saint-Barth, as EDF recently stated (JSB 1584). Despite further exchanges with the President of the Cre, Emmanuelle Wargon, the dossier has apparently made no progress. As a result, the Collectivité territoriale has decided to force the issue a little.
Installation aid since 2010
This Thursday, at the territorial council meeting, the nineteen elected representatives will be asked to vote on a modification to the energy code. The title of the deliberation is as follows: "Transposition de l'arrêté du 5 janvier 2024 fixant les conditions d'achat de l'électricité produite par les installations implantées sur bâbuilding, hangar or shade using photovoltaic solar energy with a peak installed power less than or equal to 500 kilowatts. "
For Chairman Xavier Lédée and his councillors, even beyond the framework agreement signed with the French government on energy, the aim of this deliberation is to give a "little boost" to the local economy.deliberation is to put a little "pressure" on Cre and the Direction générale de l'énergie et du climat to obtain a clear and precise answer to the question. The idea is to prevent this dossier from gathering dust. Just like the Multiannual Energy Program, which is still awaiting validation.
The question of the buy-back of surplus energy produced by solar installations is all the more crucial as the Collectivité territoriale has been committed to providing financial assistance for the installation of photovoltaic panels since 2010. On May 31 of that year, the territorial council chaired by Bruno Magras set the amount of aid at 25% of the cost of the installation, with a maximum ceiling of 3,500 euros. This amount has since been revised to 30%, with a higher ceiling. As a result, on October 22, seven applicants for territorial financial assistance were awarded a grant of 4,000 euros by decision of the Executive Board. For installations costing between €14,874 and €39,716.
