As a young Bermudian in the renewable energy industry, I’ve watched our island make significant strides toward a sustainable future. Bermuda is uniquely positioned to lead the way in eliminating fossil fuels from our economy, becoming a beacon of resilience by deploying more clean energy. However, we still have a long road ahead.

To remain competitive and reduce our soaring cost of living, we must unite in achieving the ambitious renewable energy targets outlined in the Integrated Resource Plan. The IRP, currently under consultation by the Regulatory Authority of Bermuda until September 30, 2024, sets the island on a path to achieve 85 per cent renewable energy by 2040.

But “business as usual” won’t get us there, we need to break down bureaucratic barriers that slow progress. At BE Solar, we see many opportunities to streamline this process, especially when it comes to solar installations.

I want to share a few ideas that could accelerate Bermuda's clean energy transition. Since joining the renewable energy industry in 2016, I’ve witnessed the Department of Planning make great strides — most notably, digitising the entire permit application process. This shift not only saves time, money, and paper, but also makes the process more transparent and accessible.

Communication between the department and local companies has significantly improved, and overall, the process has become smoother and more efficient. The department deserves praise for these efforts, however there’s still room for improvement.

Over the past eight years, the Bermuda Government has introduced several initiatives to encourage homeowners to go solar, including two rebate programmes and the removal of duties on solar and battery components.

The creation of the Regulatory Authority of Bermuda to oversee the energy industry and the introduction of a feed-in tariff programme, which compensates solar system owners for excess energy fed back into the grid, have also been critical steps forward.

The Department of Planning no longer charges a fee for residential Permitted Development Permit solar applications and they are now expediting approval. These initiatives are great, but we need to build on this momentum.

At BE Solar, I’m responsible for developing and submitting planning applications and navigating the approval process on behalf of our clients. The current system requires us to submit detailed information about each project — everything from roof measurements to electrical equipment details.

For residential projects, much of this information is repetitive, making the process more time-consuming and costly than necessary.

Even after a PDP submission, it takes two to four weeks for Planning to review and approve an application. Considering that the average solar installation only takes about four days, this lengthy process slows down solar installation timelines while adding more cost to administrate the inspections and approvals.

The Department of Planning could expedite residential solar and battery installations by implementing a Competent Persons Scheme, as is done in the UK. Under this system, certified solar installers would self-certify that their work complies with building regulations, bypassing the need for formal review and speeding up the process.

Accredited installers would notify the department of their plans and begin installations immediately. To maintain high standards, Planning could perform random inspections of completed projects, rather than reviewing every application.

Once the installation is confirmed as compliant, an occupancy certificate would be issued, allowing Belco to install the net meter, enabling homeowners to sell excess power back to the grid.

We believe this programme should be accelerated to reduce costs for homeowners and improve the return on investment for solar projects.

Implementing this programme would have a positive ripple effect. By reducing the time and costs associated with solar projects, we could make clean energy more accessible and affordable for homeowners. This, in turn, would help Bermuda achieve its renewable energy targets faster while creating jobs and boosting the local economy.

These are just a few ways the Department of Planning can help Bermuda meet its IRP goals, reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels, and lower the cost of living.

By enhancing communication with installers about code requirements and deploying a Competent Persons Programme, the solar industry can deliver more affordable, expedited projects, helping Bermuda reach 85 per cent renewable energy by 2035.

The BE Solar team and I will continue to collaborate with the Department of Planning and the Government to accelerate Bermuda’s transition to clean, renewable energy. The future is bright, let’s make sure we’re all moving toward it as efficiently as possible.

• John Adcock is the planning and procurement manager for BE Solar and has a background in architecture and construction