Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell says Government's policy
shift on alternative energy, including the provision of incentives, is
resulting in greater use of and investments in renewable options.
Under the policy, Government is facilitating access to low
interest rate loans for businesses and homeowners to enable them to procure
renewable energy systems, particularly for solar devices.
"We have (also) removed taxation from solar (systems).
In fact, the Government has provided incentives for solar batteries to
facilitate solar generation of electricity," Paulwell said.
"Also, we have introduced a net billing policy and, so
far, I have signed and issued just about 220 licences to Jamaicans to enable
them to generate electricity using, primarily, solar systems, and to be able to
sell the excess capacity to the grid," he said.
The minister was addressing a recent public forum on the
topic: 'The New Caribbean Energy Professional for the New Energy Paradigm', at the
University of the West Indies' Mona campus.
Government, more than a year ago, began a targeted series of
policy shifts to enable and encourage investment in renewable energy projects.
As part of the measure, the provision that gave the Petroleum Corporation of
Jamaica the exclusive right to develop all renewable energy projects in Jamaica
was removed. The Office of Utilities Regulation subsequently issued a 'request
for proposals' to procure up to 115 megawatts of energy generated from
renewable sources.
Paulwell said ministry surveys conducted islandwide showed
that, "we are witnessing such a dramatic uptake in the use of photovoltaic
(PV) equipment to generate electricity in Jamaica".
PV is a method of converting solar energy into direct
current electricity using semi-conducting materials that exhibit the
photovoltaic effect. A PV system comprises solar panels composed of a number of
cells to supply usable power.
"So far, from those private sources (issued with
licences), we are generating just under about two megawatts of capacity (for
the national power grid); but there is still room for tremendous growth in this
area. I know that there are many persons who are putting in systems and are not
(applying) for licences... (but) are finding that it makes sense to (make) the
investment, because of the (potential) savings," the minister said.
Paulwell said it was anticipated that renewable energy
technology, particularly solar, "is going to improve", adding that
over time, "I believe that (renewable energy) will be better (for us) than
fossil fuel".
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