Renewable energy on a roll in Jamaica

Nobel Laureate Professor Anthony Chen

Excerpt from Observer column published 10 September 2018

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

The specter of Kingston becoming submerged and the shoreline of Montego Bay becoming compromised should motivate every single one of us to do our part to protect our island and indeed our planet from climate change. The erosion at Hellshire beach and Little Ochie has sounded a loud alarm.

Last Thursday, Jamaica’s scientists and policy makers participated in a Forum at UWI, entitled “100 percent Clean, the ‘Why’ and ‘How’ of Jamaica’s Transition from Imported Fossil Fuels to Natural Resources.” Chair of the Forum Gerald Lindo, USAID Project Management Specialist for Energy opened, declaring that “Climate Change is the direst situation faced by civilization.”

Professor Anthony Chen, Member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which shared the 2007 Nobel Prize with former US Vice President, Al Gore and Professor of Applied Atmospheric Physics, led the discussion. He noted that Jamaica had joined with the NGO 350.org which states as its purpose: “cut CO₂ emissions and build a global movement for climate solutions”. Last Saturday, 350.org led a worldwide campaign #RiseforClimate, stating, “It’s a beautiful time to really feel global unity in the struggle for just climate action”.

Jamaica has been making some headway in renewable energy:  Prof. Chen shared that solar, wind and hydro generation accounted for between 15 and 20 percent of our energy supply. He acknowledged that the cost of installation of renewables was costly but that this was steadily becoming less expensive.

Prof Chen sees the day when renewables will cost much less that fossil fuel energy generation and is calling for a national spatial plan, mapping for wind, solar and hydro installations. He said that the tragic floods in Kerala and the extensive fires in California is awakening the world to the danger of global warming. California, he noted, had committed to 50 percent energy generation by renewables in 2025, and 100 percent by 2050.

Panelists Dr Masaō Ashtine and Dr Randy Koon Koon convinced us that indeed we can change our climate for the better, as they discussed applications, integration and socio-economic pathways. Dr Ashtine referred to the extensive solar installations at the Lady Hamilton Grand Palladium in Hanover and WISYNCO in St. Catherine.  I can add the multi-million-dollar Rainforest installations in both Montego Bay and Kingston. He gave us the big news that in my home parish of Westmoreland, financing had been secured for a 51 MW plant that will represent a quarter of Jamaica’s renewable energy portfolio.

Dr Ashtine foresaw JPS moving to micro-grids, guaranteeing greater energy efficiency. Dr Koon applauded the US$21.6 million JPS hybrid energy plant, the first of its kind in the Caribbean.  He said with the continued installation of renewables, Jamaica can reduce electricity cost by 67 percent! 

Therefore, we were heartened when Professor Alvin Wint took the podium and explained that the Generation Procuring Entity (GPE) which he chairs, has as one of its operating protocols special consideration for the procurement of renewable energy. His organisation, in conjunction with the PIOJ under the guidance of Professor Michael Taylor, Dean of the UWI Faculty of Science and Technology, has soberly acknowledged “what Jamaica will look like if we don’t act.”

He said the existing power plants will peak in 2020 and the plan is to phase out these heavily fossil-fuel dependent plants and install renewables, the cost of which is trending down.  He sees this as “important to Jamaica’s competitive advantage”. We must count first on ourselves, on academia, government, business and civil society to stay step with global efforts to literally save our planet.

We have to thank Dr Tannecia Stephenson, Head of the Department of Physics for convening an important Forum. We understand that this outstanding Convent of Mercy ‘Alpha’ graduate returned to her alma mater to teach for two years before continuing her post-graduate studies. What a good example: giving back to her school in a brilliant and practical way.