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Jamaica looking to produce 30% of energy from renewable sources by 2030
Wigton wind farm in Manchester, Jamaica. PHOTO/Jamaica Gleaner
(Caribbean Journal) – Jamaica is committed to diversifying its energy generation, and is aiming to generate 30 percent of its energy mix from renewable sources by 2030, according to State Minister for Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Julian Robinson.
Robinson was speaking at a stakeholder workshop at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston this week.
“We are also examining other fuel sources,” he said. “The LNG project is on the way; the government’s role has changed, but we are committed to having LNG in the country hopefully by 2015.”
He also pointed to the Jamaica Public Service’s construction of a 360 megawatt plant in Old Harbor.
Robinson also said the Office of Utilities Regulation had recently issued a request for proposal for 115 megawatts of renewable energy, and that the first net billing customer has been connected.
Net billing allows customers of the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) to generate electricity through green devices like wind turbines and solar cells for personal use, and then sell excess energy to the light and power company at wholesale prices set by the Office of Utilities Regulation.
“We believe we must develop local capacity and we must develop the expertise to solve our own challenges here,” he said. “If we are able to successfully adopt these strategies, we can bring the cost of energy down significantly.”
