[{"bbox": [96, 152, 1135, 313], "category": "Text", "text": "Saba faces challenges that are common to the Caribbean islands. These include an over-dependency on food and fuel imports and insecurity of energy supply further compounded by a lack of adequate competitiveness, weak economic integration with neighbouring islands and needs to safeguard the environment and foster resilience. The COVID-19 crisis led to an unprecedented strain on Saba's socio-economic development. Measures were taken by Saba to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic. Due to its location in the Caribbean, climate change and extreme weather events are important threats."}, {"bbox": [96, 323, 368, 352], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### 2.1.3 Strategic framework"}, {"bbox": [96, 362, 1135, 577], "category": "Text", "text": "The Action is fully aligned with the objectives of the Green Deal. The Green Deal is the EU strategy to attain climate neutrality by 2050 and to further cut greenhouse gas emissions by 55% below 1990 levels by 2030. The priority area is in line with its objective of decarbonising the economy, notably to secure sustainable and affordable energy through developing energy renewable sources. It will also contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, mainly the Sustainable Development Goal 7 'Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all'. The Action will also contribute to the extent possible to the Gender Action Plan of the EU (GAPII 2021-2025)⁷, especially its key area of engagement 'Addressing the challenges and harnessing the opportunities offered by the green transition and the digital transformation'."}, {"bbox": [96, 601, 1135, 656], "category": "Text", "text": "By improving the connectivity and sustainable growth of Saba, the Action on sustainable and resilient energy could increase its potential as gateway towards its neighbours."}, {"bbox": [96, 680, 1135, 841], "category": "Text", "text": "Besides, Saba will be eligible for the InvestEU Programme⁸ on a competitive basis, which aims to kick-start the European economy through the provision of crucial support, notably guarantees, to the Union's medium- and long-term policy priorities. It will be needed to further reflect on how InvestEU could complement this action on sustainable energy, which will reinforce the enabling conditions for investments in the energy sector, notably by modernising the electricity grid. It should be noted, however, that Dutch OCTs require approval from the central Dutch government to enter into loan agreements."}, {"bbox": [85, 869, 341, 899], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [96, 903, 1135, 1010], "category": "Text", "text": "Saba has favourable natural endowments that are assets for the development of renewable energy such as: abundance of sunlight, constant warm temperatures and easy access to wind. However, the island faces fundamental challenges common to the Caribbean region. In the context of the energy sector reform, three main challenges are at stake: energy security, resilience to climate change and limited local capacities."}, {"bbox": [96, 1020, 1135, 1234], "category": "Text", "text": "Energy independence is vital to Saba's economic stability. In a context of more volatile and higher energy prices, the less dependent Saba's energy system is on imported fossil fuels, the less vulnerable its energy system is to serious disruptions. For instance, the new solar parks allowed a reduction of 41 % of use of diesel for electricity generation in 2021. Furthermore, the cost of living is high in all the Caribbean Netherlands and electricity is an important factor that contributes to it. By investing in renewable energy, the cost of electricity production will be reduced, which can free government subsidies for more targeted social welfare, and can eventually lower the cost of living on the island. The reduction of the costs of electric production can also be beneficial for enterprises and, will create new investment opportunities and green jobs, especially for women and youth."}, {"bbox": [96, 1244, 1135, 1379], "category": "Text", "text": "Caribbean islands are particularly vulnerable to the impact of climate change, especially as they are often affected by extreme weather events. In 2017, Saba suffered important damages after the category 5 hurricanes Irma and Maria, although not as devastating as in other islands. Since it is one of the major risks that could affect the execution of the Action, future infrastructures will be designed to be resilient to category 3 hurricanes and the last 5% of the distribution cables will be put underground."}, {"bbox": [96, 1389, 1135, 1525], "category": "Text", "text": "Finally, the small size of the population and of the local administration, including Saba Electric Company, need to be considered. Saba faces the challenges that are specific to small islands and overseas countries and territories. A strong policy dialogue and regular technical exchanges will play a key role in following progresses and anticipating difficulties. In addition, complementary support is allocated to support Saba in the implementation of the budget support."}, {"bbox": [85, 1600, 818, 1626], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁷ https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2021-01/join-2020-17-final_en.pdf"}, {"bbox": [85, 1622, 380, 1644], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁸ https://investeu.europa.eu/index_en"}, {"bbox": [1037, 1680, 1144, 1705], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 5 of 22"}]