Project to support the development of geothermal energy in Dominica completed successfully

LACIF provided EUR 2 million for technical assistance to the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica. The studies and drillings conducted have demonstrated the high geothermal potential and the construction of a power plant has recently been agreed.

The project “Support to the development of geothermal energy”, which started in 2013, has come to a successful conclusion. It has contributed to increase the generation capacity of renewable energy sources in the form of geothermal energy and to the strengthening of institutional capacities. Moreover, Dominica could become independent energetically, export clean and competitive energy to two French neighboring islands, Martinique and Guadeloupe, and thus increase regional cooperation, while lowering the cost of electricity and mitigating climate change.

Although the island of Dominica, located in the Eastern Caribbean, is primarily volcanic in nature and has a very strong geothermal power production potential, electricity cost was one of the highest in the world at 0.43 USD/kWh as of 2013, which hindered the country´s development. Studies conducted in the early 1980s identified areas worth exploring due to their geothermal activity, particularly in the Roseau Valley located in the southern part of the island. In 2003, new studies quantified the goethermal potential in the Valley and the feasibility of a subsea transmission line with Guadeloupe and Martinique. These studies were financed by the EU-funded programme INTERREG lll-B, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Organisation of American States (OAS).

The project “Support to the development of geothermal energy” has financed the drilling of three exploratory wells, which resulted in a good production with high enthalpy and permeability of the reservoir. The project also proved flexible enough to support the Government of Dominica in the aftermath of category 5 hurricane Maria, which hit the island in September 2017 and damaged 90% of the island´s electricity infrastructure. LACIF funds were reallocated to adapt the new infrastructure to natural hazards.

Furthermore, these successful studies and drillings have allowed the Government of Dominica to undertake another step towards the decarbonization of the country. On December 5, 2023 an agreement was signed to develop the 10 MW geothermal power plant in Laudat, in the interior of the country, in parallel transmission lines will be built (https://emonewsdm.com/government-of-dominica-signs-agreement-for-development-of-geothermal-power-plant/). The plant and its network is expected to be commissioned by 2025. It is foreseen to also develop a geothermal power plant in the northern area of the country.