RE-shaping Your Energy Views
The Fuel & IPP Charge on your bill combines two factors: 1) The cost of fuel used to generate electricity and 2) The cost of the electricity supplied by Independent Power Producers (IPPs). The fuel cost is by far the greatest contributor to the Fuel & IPP Charge. JPS says it needs approximately 20,000 barrels… Continue reading What is the Fuel and IPP charge on your JPS Bill?
The average cost of the electricity in Jamaica is currently at a five year low of US 25 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), according to the privately owned electricity company (Jamaica Public Service). JPS says the dramatic reduction in the overall cost of electricity is due to lower fuel charges, as well as the improved efficiency… Continue reading Average Electricity Cost in Jamaica is Down to Five-Year Low
Nevis, the sister isle of St. Kitts, is on its way to becoming carbon neutral in the near future. The two-island state is part of the Leeward Islands chain in the Eastern Caribbean. The small island of Nevis is home to a population of about 12,000 and it receives approximately 90 percent of its energy… Continue reading Greening Nevis Electricity Sector
In a previous article titled "Geothermal Potential in the Caribbean," I highlighted the vast geothermal energy potential of several islands in the Caribbean. The history of electricity production from geothermal energy dates back to the early 1900's, however of list of islands with potential only Guadeloupe to date has a 4.5MWe geothermal electricity plant. A conventional… Continue reading Harnessing Geothermal Energy for Electricity Generation
In late 2013, the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) named three preferred bidders for the supply of up to 115 MW (megawatts) of electricity generation capacity from renewable energy. The three preferred bids amounted to a total 78 MW of energy only renewable energy capacity, including two projects offering energy from wind amounting to 58 MW,… Continue reading The Economics of Wind Power in Jamaica
Wind is simply air in motion. It is caused by the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface by the sun's radiant energy. This motion is due to difference in the earth's surface composition, which causes a difference in the rate at which the sun’s energy is absorbed. An ideal situation for the formation of wind… Continue reading Wind Power Basics
The islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao forms a chain of islands in the Caribbean known as the Leeward Antilles. Together these islands has an installed wind capacity of approximately 71 MW. These islands feature the longest continuous history of wind energy utilization in the Caribbean (since 1983), as well as a novel 28 MW integrated (bio-diesel/wind/storage) energy system… Continue reading ABC Islands Wind Farms
The high cost of electricity in the small islands of the Caribbean has drive the various governments to take a serious look at incorporating various forms of renewable energy source into their country's energy mix. As a result electricity markets across the region have seen the introduction of grid interconnection policies, allowing end users with… Continue reading Distributed RE Integration Policies in the Caribbean
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in its REmap 2030 report highlighted that "renewable technologies are now the most economic solution for new capacity in an increasing number of countries and regions." This was attributed to the declining cost to deliver electricity from solar photovoltaics (PV), concentrated solar power (CSP) and wind, meanwhile hydropower, biomass… Continue reading Renewable Power is Cost Competitive
Apparently we can! Viaspace, a producer of renewable Giant King Grass that can be used as a low carbon fuel for electricity generation, has signed a supply contract with bioenergy project developer ReSource Bioenergy to supply its energy grassfor bioenergy projects in Jamaica through its affiliate Jamaica Bioenergy. According to Viaspace, Giant King Grass is… Continue reading Can We Grow Our Own Electricity?
