The BeginningÂ
The CARILEC Renewable Energy Community (CAREC) was envisioned in the early 2000s as a hub for regional energy collaboration. By 2015, that vision began taking shape. With support from the United Nations Development Program Global Environment Facility (UNDP GEF), CARECâs Community of Practice (CoP) was developedâa network of professionals and organizations dedicated to sharing renewable energy knowledge and best practices.
The Island Energy Program (IEP), led by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and the Clinton Foundation, was selected as the implementing partner for the initiative. With strategic backing from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), key stakeholders gathered at the Green Aruba Conference in October 2015 to co-design the CoP.
In the following six months, CARILEC collaborated with partners and developers to build the platform. CAREC officially launched at the CARILEC Engineering Conference in June 2016, igniting a new era of innovation and energy knowledge-sharing across the Caribbean
GrowthÂ
 From 2016 to 2018, CAREC grew from a forum into a go-to hubâhosting webinars, post-conference trainings, and spotlighting Caribbean electric power industry know-how. As membership expanded across utilities, regulators, and pros, CAREC wrapped its first funding phase in 2019 and officially came under CARILECâs wingâmarking a bold move toward full regional ownership. It was in this time that the Caribbean faced a myriad of natural disasters such as Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.Â
Bridging the GapÂ
To keep the energy flowing, CARILEC secured additional support from the Deutsche Gesellschaft fĂŒr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) during 2019â2020. This strategic partnership sustained CAREC through a pivotal transitionâfueling capacity-building, deepening community engagement, and sparking innovation to evolve the platformâs regional impact.
During this period, CARILEC continued to expand its suite of services, with a strong focus on benchmarking and data analysis to enhance member utility performance. The CAREC platform became a growing repository of expert insights, particularly from operational utility-scale renewable energy projects, helping members translate lessons learned into real-world improvements.
This phase marked a shift from building the foundation to scaling value, reinforcing CAREC as a trusted space for collaboration, shared learning, and strategic growth in the Caribbean energy sector.
The Pandemic Pivot
COVID-19 transformed the way the world workedâand CAREC adapted fast. The launch of the Resilient Power Series (2020-2021) and other CARILEC content brought energy professionals together virtually to explore just transitions, disaster response, and leadership development. It wasnât just survivalâit was reinvention and a clear lesson that resilient electric power infrastructure is critical to the Caribbean’s survival. CAREC proved it could be a virtual hub for strategy, learning, and resilience in a rapidly changing world where remote engagement drove business continuity. The strength CARILEC depends on in times of great disruption is the membership network.Â
Rebrand & ReinventionÂ
With support from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), CAREC went through a full redesign (2022-2024)âshaped by input from members, partners, and regional insights. CARILEC revisited past content, assessed training needs, and reimagined the platformâs role. The result? A new identity: the CARILEC Resilient Energy Communityâbroadening the focus from renewables to resilience, collaboration, and inclusive development. CDB also backed targeted training on battery storage, regulatory affairs, and utility-regulator dialogues through the Organisation of Caribbean Utility Regulators (OOCUR). Insights from programs like the Caribbean Renewable Energy Efficiency Programme (CAREEP) and the Caribbean Disaster Risk Reduction and Awareness Programme (CDAP) were also integrated, aligning CAREC with both policy and practice across the electric power industry.Â
Powering the Future
CAREC exists today as a community of practice and strategic resource hub for all CARILEC members and stakeholders to access digital and in-person training experiences and tools. The CAREC Knowledge Portal is for energy professionals to engage in real-time collaboration, access tailored training, share best practices, and drive project development. It supports CARILECâs broader Vision and Mission:
Vision: Working together to realize a sustainable energy future for people of the Caribbean.
Mission: To empower our members to achieve more, by facilitating access to business solutions, knowledge sharing opportunities, advocacy and mutual assistance..
CAREC is the digital platform that brings this vision to lifeâempowering the workforce, connecting stakeholders, and advancing a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready Caribbean energy sector.
