If you’re able to, you may be one of the growing number of homeowners who have turned to solar for a more reliable source of energy. Punch in “solar” on local real estate websites and you’ll find it’s highlighted as a key selling point in property listings.
It’s no secret that Eleuthera (except Spanish Wells) has been burdened with power issues, even as BPL upgrades infrastructure and says it’s on a path to implement renewable energy. “Solar’s amazing because the biggest challenge isn’t the power going on and off, it’s the power fluctuations that tend to damage the equipment,” Coldwell Banker’s Harbour Island agent, Robert Arthur, told me. Robert operates Arthur’s Bakery, a popular bistro on Crown and Dunmore Streets in Harbour Island.
He solved the power fluctuation problem by shifting about 60 percent of load to a stand-alone solar system, removing his toasters, display case, some electronic equipment and some refrigeration from the grid. Most of the cooking is by gas, so Arthur’s Bakery doesn’t have to worry about the power going out. Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) operates 21 separate power systems in the country, from energy dense New Providence to remote Family Islands.
In addition to aging infrastructure, it must deal with storms and overgrown trees impacting power lines, not to mention the archipelagic nature of the Bahamas. Imagine managing miles and miles of overhead power lines that connect one remote, underpopulated village to another. The cost is enormous.
In April, 2025 the government signed an agreement with a company called EA Energy to develop a solar and LNG-powered microgrid for Abaco and Eleuthera. According to EA Energy’s website, construction of both power plants was expected to begin in the third quarter of 2025, with commissioning anticipated in the third or fourth quarter of 2026. The status of the project isn’t clear.
However, the privately-owned St George’s Power Company in Spanish Wells is moving ahead with plans to implement a solar community programme.
To get around the scarcity of available land, it will use its customers’ rooftops as a solar field. Moving from fossil fuel, it will generate most of the solar power on Spanish Wells and Russell Island, at the same time allowing homeowners to tie private systems to its grid. The power company plans to pay for any electricity sent back into the grid by the private systems. This is subject to URCA approval and consumers meeting grid tie connection requirements.
Living in a sun belt, you may wonder why more private homeowners don’t harness the sun’s power independently.
It all comes down to cost.
While cost is the major factor, Robert Arthur predicts a growing trend towards solar power in Eleuthera with Spanish Wells leading the way.
“More Bahamians and expats are interested in switching to solar now that a couple of people have done successful installations,” he said.
Solar systems are complicated and it’s important to use an experienced professional to determine if your property is suitable and if so, to identify the right system. You will need a certified installer and a reliable qualified technician for ongoing support.
And a special caveat to landlords:
“My solar goes crazy during the day when the sun’s producing all this energy, but at night, depending on your battery storage capacity, you may have to conserve energy because you only have what’s stored.” A homeowner may understand, but what about visitors who come home after a long, happy day on the beach, thinking about long, hot showers or cool air conditioning.
There are three types of solar systems.
O-grid solar – These stand-alone solar systems are designed to operate independently off the utility grid. A battery bank is required.
Grid-tied systems – a home’s solar system is connected to a utility power grid, allowing it to draw the solar energy produced by its panels as well as energy from the utility grid.
A backup power system, also known as hybrid, connects to the utility grid. Backup batteries provide power when the grid goes down for a limited period.
Robert’s solution was to install a second breaker panel, independent of BPL, giving him two separate systems – off-the grid and grid-tied.
He hopes to go 100 percent solar at some point.
Questions or comments? Contact me at [email protected].
(Mike Lightbourn is president of Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty)
