THE HAGUE – Renewable energy projects across Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten are accelerating, marking what the Dutch government calls a “turning point” in the region’s transition away from expensive and unreliable fossil-fuel imports. The updates appear in the newest economic-development progress brief sent to parliament.
For Curaçao, Dutch and local authorities are conducting a major feasibility study into the development of a full green-hydrogen industry, supported by TNO, private investors and the Dutch Ministries of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure. Final results are expected in early 2026 and will shape decisions on large-scale energy infrastructure around the harbor and industrial zones.
The Netherlands has also approved the use of its powerful SDE subsidy instrument—usually reserved for renewable-energy expansion in Europe—to support grid upgrades, battery storage and large-scale solar production on the islands. This marks the first time SDE funds will be deployed in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.
Aruba and Curaçao will potentially use these funds to install utility-scale battery systems capable of absorbing excess solar energy and stabilizing the grid. Without such technology, renewable penetration cannot rise beyond current limits.
St. Maarten, meanwhile, continues reconstruction of its energy sector with World Bank support through the Trust Fund, focusing on storm-resistant infrastructure and a modernized distribution network.
Dutch officials stress that the shift to renewables is not just environmental. It is essential for consumer cost relief, energy security, and economic competitiveness—all areas where the islands struggle with some of the highest per-kilowatt costs in the Caribbean.