Dominica New Energy Experience European Station

Dominica drafted a National Energy Plan in 2011 and revised it in 2014 to state its objective of using sustainable and indigenous resources to make electricity generation on the island self-suficient by 2020.

It should initially generate enough power to meet half of Dominica's peak electricity demand, says Fred John, managing director of the government-owned Dominica Geothermal Development Company, which is also involved in the scheme.

The used steam will then be cooled to the point where it becomes water again, and reinjected back underground for the process to restart. "We hope to totally eliminate the need for diesel generation for electricity in Dominica by 2030," Dominica's energy minister Dr Vince Henderson tells the BBC.

The OECS recently set a target to reach 30% renewable energy within 10 years, with some countries, including Dominica and St Kitts, aiming for 100% by then. OECS Director General Dr Didacus Jules describes Dominica's geothermal project as a "bold and visionary step".

It has certainly been several years in the making with the Dominican government alone said to have invested around $15m (£11.3m). Dr Henderson admits that the project is "not easy" for a country that "faced a big challenge" when it had to substantially repair its electricity network after 2017's Hurricane Maria.

The government also says that the geothermal plant will reduce electricity bills. And it is not just Dominica (not to be confused with the similarly named Dominican Republic), that is set to benefit. Long-term plans include exporting surplus electricity via undersea cables to neighbouring islands.