Gov’t Targeting Increased Power Generation from Renewable Energy Sources

The Government is targeting a further increase in the percentage of the national power grid’s electricity generated from renewable energy sources.

State Minister for Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson, says while the administration remains confident that the 20 per cent target for 2030 will be met through, among other things, this year’s implementation of three major solar and wind projects, valued approximately US$200 million, “we want to stretch it to 30 percent, which we believe is actually (possible).”

He was speaking at the recent commissioning of the National Commercial Bank’s (NCB) Solar Photovoltaic (PV) project, at the institution’s Innovation Lab, Trafalgar Road, New Kingston.

In noting that approximately 11 per cent of the national power grid’s current output is generated from renewable energy sources, Mr. Robinson said the projects, being undertaken in St. Elizabeth. Manchester, and Clarendon, and are slated for completion in 2016, “will push us closer to 16 per cent…(and even) closer to the 20 per cent.”

“Those three projects, combined, will add about 80 megawatts of electricity to the grid…and there is another 37 megawatts that the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) is in the process of seeking a Request for Proposal, to do a waste to energy facility. So we are committed, as an administration, to (energy) diversification,” he stated.

Against this background, Mr. Robinson welcomed NCB’s installation of the solar PV systems at its Constant Spring Road and Trafalgar Road branches, in St. Andrew, which form part of the entity’s energy conservation strategy.

The PV systems, which were designed by the renewable energy engineering company, SOFOS Jamaica, are expected to reduce the company’s dependence on imported oil for electricity generation, while contributing to greater preservation of the environment.

“It is an excellent initiative that NCB has embarked on to reduce your operating cost, so that you can…deliver services to your customers in a more efficient way. The Government of Jamaica welcomes this initiative,” he stated.