Jamaica has an abundance of sun power which presents a
quiet, clean and environmentally safe means of
generating electricity. The Petroleum Corporation of
Jamaica has developed pilot projects and has assessed
the potential and is encouraging the use of solar
energy.
 Research
findings from pilot projects in solar energy are set for
expansion by the Jamaica Solar Energy Association (JSEA).
A demonstration solar lighting system consisting of 12
halogen lamps were installed at the entrance to the PCJ
building. A total of 77 photovoltaic lamps have been
installed island-wide. Electricity for the lighting
system is generated using photovoltaic technology.
Photovoltaics
technology uses a solid state device, known as solar
cell. Solar cells have the capability of absorbing
sunlight and converting this energy to electricity. The
cells are arranged in modules. Included in the system
are storage batteries that store the energy during
daylight hours to power the lights during the night.
PV is economical in
stand-alone systems where the cost of electricity
transmission lines to remote areas is prohibitive.
Solar water heaters are
still only in modest use in the Caribbean except in
Barbados where incentives have had positive effect on
consumer acceptance of the technology.
Approximately 5,000 solar hot water heaters have been
installed in Jamaica compared to about 30,000 in
Barbados.
However, efforts are
currently underway to increase the usage of solar water
heating in residential and commercial facilities in
Jamaica. Under these initiatives, over the past two
years, approximately 1,500 solar water heating systems
have been installed islandwide.
The Government of Jamaica in April 2001 also made it
mandatory for public sector buildings requiring hot
water to utilize solar energy for that purpose.”
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