What are the administrative procedures for installing solar panels in Saint Lucia?

When you plan on going into solar self-consumption, in addition to the installation of the solar panels, you need to complete some essential essential administrative steps. A certain number of authorizations must be obtained for the realization of your project.

It is not our aim to discourage you from your projects by a heavy administrative burden, but on the contrary, in this article we wish to inform you of all the existing procedures. By choosing a certified and qualified installer such as EcoCarib Green Technologie, you are trusting the organisation to delegate these administrative tasks and free you from this mission.

Regulator permission to install solar panels for self-consumption

In order to install a Solar Photovoltaic (PV)  system in St. Lucia you must first get permission from the National Utility Regulatory Commission (NURC). The applicant or a representative on their behalf is required to submit an application to the NURC. This application requires the applicant to input general information about themselves, details about the system including photovoltaic and inverter information as well as land registry information. Other documents including the following are required to be submitted.

An application checklist is also required to be submitted along with the application form., both of which  can be downloaded on the NURC’s website https://nurc.org.lc .

The document must be submitted to the NURC via email, delivered in person or sent via registered post with acknowledgement of receipt. The time limit for examining the application is approximately 1 month from the date of the receipt and payment of $200 EC, $500 EC or $2000 EC fee must be made depending on your project type i.e residential, commercial or special project respectively.

If you do not receive a reply within this period, a follow up will be required with the NURC. Note that if you fail to submit a required document this process will be delayed further.

Application for connection to the grid

Individuals who wish to remain connected to the grid in order to get a credit on their surplus electricity production, must submit a connection request to the relevant grid operator. This process is usually done between the NURC who are the regulators and LUCELEC. The NURC will send over your application for technical inspection and then LUCELEC returns the application back to the NURC with its approval/disapproval. Once the NURC receives confirmation from LUCELEC The application then has to be approved by the board. Once the NURC board has approved of your application,  a permission letter will be granted to authorize the installation of the solar system.

Once installed an application is prepared and sent to the electrical department at the ministry of infrastructure Then an approval certificate from the electrical department along with the LUCELEC application for a net metering agreement.

Once approved LUCELEC will come to the site to inspect the system and program it with the installers assistance to meet their grid frequencies and safety standards. After the system is approved by LUCELEC, they will issue an approval document and authorize for the installation of a directional meter.

This meter tracks the excess power produced by your solar system which is sent back to the grid. This gives you a credit which can be applied to your monthly electric bill.

Once all of this is done, commissioning can then be carried out.

Although this process can be done on your own, Ecocarib Green Technologie offers this service to our customers at no added cost saving you the time and hassle! Contact us today!