GREEN TEAM NEWS

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I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

EDITORIAL 1

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

DEVELOPMENTS IN

JAMAICA

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CARICOM ENERGY WEEK —

FULL OF

ACTIVITIES

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ENERGY CONSERVATION

AND EFFICIENCY: A SUS-

TAINABLE RESPONSE TO

RISING OIL PRICES

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THE PIOJ’S

WATER FILTRATION

SYSTEM

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GREEN TEAM NEWSLETTER

V O L . 4 , N O . 1

D A T E : D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1

This issue, like some of the earlier ones, focuses on energy conservation and efficiency. This is because the topic is such an important one for the country. The issue of energy conservation and efficiency is one side of the energy coin. The other side is finding a solution to the energy dilemma. Jamaica, in order to achieve sustainable development and resolve its eco-nomic crisis, needs to find alternative energy sources. The search has been on for some time and urgently needs to be accelerated. The lead article “Alternative Energy Developments in Jamaica” is intended to bring us up to date with the various sources of energy, their feasibility, savings realized and future prospects. “Energy Conservation and Efficien-cy: A Sustainable Response to Rising Oil Prices” provides much infor-mation on the National Energy Policy 2009–2030 and its goals. This article points out that “Energy Conservation and efficient practices are the only short-term solutions Jamaica has in reducing energy consumption”. The report on CARICOM Energy Week, November 6–12, highlights the events of that week. This article reflects the momentum and urgency which Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean have come to attach to energy con-servation, energy efficiency and renewable energy resources. You would have all noticed that the PIOJ is relentless in its efforts at cost cutting and resource management. Facilities Manager, Mrs. Ramona McConnel seeks every opportunity to innovate and cut costs. Her latest project is the transition from bottled water to bottle-less coolers, and from all accounts, this venture has been successful. Many thanks to our guest writers from the Ministry of Energy and Mining.

Pleasant reading!

EDITORIAL

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P A G E 2

G R E E N T E A M N E W S L E T T E R

Alternative energy refers to energy sources such

as solar, wind, or nuclear energy that can replace

or supplement traditional fossil-fuel sources (coal,

oil, and natural gas). Jamaica has been pursuing

several alternative energy options, in particular,

the expanded use of renewable energy to improve

energy security and diversify the fuel mix. For

Jamaica, there is heavy concentration on renewa-

ble energy development because the country is

rich with natural resources that can be described

as “replenishable” and “clean”. Replenishable

means that the source of energy is not finite while

“clean” means that it has few or zero carbon

emissions and produces few toxic byproducts (it

will not pollute the environment as it is being

used). The terms alternative energy and renewa-

ble energy are often used interchangeably, how-

ever, while all renewable sources are alternatives,

not all alternative sources are renewable. Renew-

able sources are good alternatives because they

can be future replacements to offset the fossil

fuels that now meet a considerable portion of our

energy needs.

Jamaica currently consumes about 60 000 barrels

of oil per day to meet its diverse needs. The coun-

try’s energy mix remains dependent on the use of

imported fossil/petroleum fuels, which accounts

for 91.0 per cent of the energy mix, while renew-

able resources account for 9.0 per cent. Jamaica’s

renewable resources are mainly wind, hydro, fuel-

wood, bagasse, solar and ethanol (used in the

transportation sector). The National Energy Poli-

cy 2009–2030 supports the development and ex-

pansion of renewable energy resources by estab-

lishing a set of targets for renewable energy that

will see renewables representing 20.0 per cent of

the country’s energy mix by 2030.

Wigton Wind Farm in Manchester

Wind farms are places where many wind turbines

are clustered together. They are built in places

where it is nearly always windy. The first wind

farm in Jamaica and in the region was commis-

sioned in April 2004 near Wigton in the parish of

Manchester. The location, which is known as the

Wigton Wind Farm, has the highest medium wind

speed compared with several other sites, such as

the Palisadoes Strip (near Norman Manley Air-

port); Green Castle (west of Annoto Bay); Spur

Tree (on Manchester Plateau) and Blenhiem (on

Manchester Plateau), that were surveyed.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS IN JAMAICA

Mrs. Yvonne Barrett-Edwards

Director, Energy Economics and Planning, Energy Division, Ministry of Energy and Mining

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The Wigton Wind Farm, which is owned and op-

erated by Wigton Wind Farm Limited, an agency

of the Ministry of Energy and Mining (MEM),

through the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica

(PCJ), up to 2010 had an installed capacity of

20.7 megawatts (MW). It has since been expand-

ed to a capacity of 38.7 MW of electricity, repre-

senting 4.0 per cent of the total electricity mix.

The expanded wind farm is slated to generate 115

gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity each year. In

total, the wind farm is expected to offset 60 000

barrels of oil per year and reduce carbon dioxide

emissions by 85 000 tones.

Government has stepped up its efforts to boost renewable energy deployment through the com-missioning of a Wind Mapping study. This study is being undertaken by the Wigton Wind Farm. Wind mapping will determine the wind blowing patterns across the island. It will also identify the best points for establishing wind farms. The study is critical to the government’s strategy of increas-ing its available stock of alternative energy sources, which will assist in reducing the coun-try’s dependence on fossil fuel. Hydro

Generating electricity from run-of-the-river plants

has been a common operation in Jamaica for over

100 years. Currently, there are eight plants in op-

eration which are all owned and operated by the

Jamaica Public Service Company. These plants,

which have a combined capacity of 23 MW, cur-

rently account for 3.0 per cent of the total elec-

tricity supplied to the electricity grid and 58.0 per

cent of the total renewable energy contribution to

JPSCo’s total net electricity generation. Most of

the hydropower systems are fairly old with the

most recent ones being in place for more than 20

years.

There are several rivers in Jamaica that are well

suited for the exploitation of hydropower. The

PCJ has updated hydropower studies for Laugh-

lands, Great River and Back Rio Grande over the

past two years (2008–2010) to indicate the energy

and investment potential. The locations have ca-

pacity potentials ranging from 1 MW to 8 MW.

The goal of PCJ’s hydropower development initi-

ative is to stimulate productive uses of hydro-

electric power for poverty alleviation, environ-

mental sustainability and economic growth.

Biofuels and Biomass Developments

Extracting usable energy from biological material — things that grow — has been practised ever since the first wood fire. Considering the abun-dance of biological materials from a variety of sources, and the synergies with agricultural pro-duction, there are tremendous opportunities for Jamaica in the realm of biofuels (combustion fuels from biological sources) and biomass (large quantities of organic material containing converti-ble energy).

Installed Hydropower Capacity in Jamaica

Location Year of Com-mission

Capacity (MW)

Upper White River

1945 3.8

Roaring River 1949 3.8

Rio Bueno A 1949 2.5

Lower White River

1952 4.9

Maggoty Falls 1966 6.3

Rams Horn 1988 0.6

Constant Spring

1989 0.8

Rio Bueno 1989 1.1

Total 24.8

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS IN JAMAICA cont’d

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The production of energy from sugar has the po-

tential to bolster the industry by providing an ad-

ditional revenue stream. Sugar factories already

produce power from biomass. For six months in

the year, during the cane crushing season, over

90.0 per cent of the energy needs of sugar facto-

ries are provided by combustion of bagasse, the

fibrous waste material left after cane juice is ex-

tracted from the harvested plant. If the sugar fac-

tories were made more efficient and their process-

es upgraded to allow them to produce energy year

-round, there is potential to add 86 MW of power

capacity to the Jamaican electricity grid — about

10.0 per cent of our current installed total.

In December 2012, the MEM, in partnership with

the European Union, will conclude a project that

seeks to outline the engineering and financial con-

siderations that factories would need to address in

order to supply electricity to the grid. This in-

cludes efficiency improvements, equipment up-

grades, sources of additional biomass and finan-

cial modelling.

Ethanol

With the E10 mandate, there exists a captive mar-

ket for biofuels in Jamaica — 70 million litres are

required annually as a fuel additive. Currently,

this is supplied using imported ethanol, but a

study by Winrock International, supported by the

Organization of American States, showed that this

demand can be met sustainably from Jamaican

feedstock.

Biodiesel

At Bodles Research Station in Old Harbour, St.

Catherine, the Ministry of Agriculture in partner-

ship with the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica,

is conducting research into the viability of two

biodiesel crops, castor beans and jatropha. These

crops contain high amounts of oil that, when

extracted and processed, can be used in diesel

engines. The current research is entering year two

of a five-year pilot project that will determine the

agronomic parameters under which biodiesel can

be produced. They are looking at various elements

such as irrigation requirements, pesticides and

fertilisers.

Biogas

Under the right conditions, animal waste can be digested using special microbes that produce the gas methane, a flammable substance similar to the contents of a cylinder of cooking gas. The sub-stance can be used for cooking or to run simple generators and has found worldwide applications in rural communities.

Jamaica has had biogas programmes in the past,

significantly during the 80s, with funding from

OLADE. Farmers were encouraged (by way of a

revolving loan fund and technical assistance) to

build biogas digesters. While the programme did

not blossom due in part to economic conditions

that hurt farming overall, the Scientific Research

Council still conducts research and holds patents

on biogas technology.

Waste-to-Energy

While not strictly biomass, municipal waste con-

tains biomass that can be used to produce biogas

or thermal power in the same manner as animal

waste or bagasse. The PCJ is currently partnering

with external developers for the development of

65 MW of waste-to-energy power. This will be

based in the Riverton and Retirement dumps and


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will provide a waste management solution while

also providing electricity.

Solar Power

Jamaica is a sunny country, and thus the

possibility of renewable solar power is a compel-

ling concept. Solar technology has already been

proven to be economical for water heating

applications. However, for providing electricity,

solar technology is still more expensive than

hydroelectric, biomass or wind power solutions.

Nevertheless, Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica/

Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy

(PCJ/CERE) is conducting solar site assessments.

The first proposed site is in Portmore, where

PCJ/CERE is contemplating a 1 MW facility. For

now, investigations are concentrated on

pre-feasibility studies and solar resource map-

ping. Through the MEM’s Low Carbon Energy

Road Map project, CERE is partnering with in-

ternational resource mapping experts to produce

an accurate, bankable map of solar potential in

the island.

Conclusion

Energy from renewable sources is a critical

element for achieving sustainable development

and is expected to contribute significantly to Ja-

maica being “the place of choice to live, work,

raise families and do business”. Therefore, the

government will seek to create the economic,

infrastructural and planning conditions conducive

to the sustainable development of all of Jamai-

ca’s renewable energy resources.

CARICOM Energy Week - Full of Activities

by Taniquea Callam, Ministry of Energy & Mining

The inaugural staging of CARICOM Energy Week (CEW) was celebrated in all CARICOM member states during the week of November 6–12, 2011. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Energy and Min-ing, with support from the UNDP and several stakeholders, Jamaica’s theme for the celebration was “Energy Security for a Sustainable Fu-

ture”. The aim of the CEW was to increase the aware-ness of the citizens of Jamaica, targeting policy makers, investors, energy and electricity users,

private and public sector individuals, students and other stakeholders in order for them to be-come better stewards in the utilization of various forms of energy. In a splendid affair that was attended by energy sector stakeholders and members of the Diplo-matic Corps, and with a well-received entertain-ment item by the Half Way Tree Primary School, the CEW activities were launched in the courtyard of the Petroleum Corporation of Ja-maica (PCJ) building on November 3, 2011.


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Academic participation was a main feature of the week of activities, with the staff from the Minis-try of Energy and Mining and its agencies, en-gaging students from several primary and high schools in lunch time presentations which fo-cused on the importance of energy conservation, efficiency and renewable energy. Students from several schools across the island were taken on tours to the Wigton Wind Farm in Manchester, PCJ building in Kingston and the Maggoty Hydro-electric plant in St. Elizabeth. Presentations on production of refined products from crude oil and electricity generation were made and students were able to tour the facilities and take part in activities. Students were also taught the concepts and use of various forms of renewable energy. Jamaica’s three main tertiary institutions played a major role in staging a number of activities under the CEW umbrella. The Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, held an energy forum under the theme “Renewable Energy for a Sus-tainable Future” and a library exhibition. The University of Technology (UTech) com-memorated this year’s CARICOM Energy Week by hosting two main events — an outside Radio Broadcast and a Public Panel Discussion on En-ergy. The outside radio broadcast was on No-vember 8, 2011 and the panel discussion was held on November 10, 2011 under the theme “Jamaica’s Energy Future”. For their part, the University of the West Indies hosted a two-day expo which showcased many initiatives and innovations that various compa-nies and individuals have been undertaking in the area or renewable energy and energy efficiency. Various schools from across the island participat-ed in the expo and the information was well re-ceived by all.

There was also a public lecture on the first day of the expo in honour of the late Dr. Raymond Wright, former head of the PCJ. CARICOM Energy Week culminated with an entertainment package at the University of the West Indies on Friday, November 11, 2011.

Students viewing PIOJ’s booth at the UWI during CARICOM

ENERGY WEEK in November, 2011

Ms. Yvonne Smith, Marketing Officer, in charge of the PIOJ’s booth at the two-day expo held at UWI

CARICOM Energy Week - Full of Activities cont’d

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Jamaica’s energy situation is a dire one in that

the majority of its utilities and transportation

needs are met by imported oil. With an oil import

dependency of over 90.0 per cent, the country is

vulnerable to the effects of an unstable interna-

tional oil market. There has been much fluctua-

tion in oil prices over the years, a result of geopo-

litical tensions within regions of extraction, di-

minishing resources and growing demand.

Between February 2009 and October 2011 crude

oil prices have increased by 121.0 per cent, as

prices averaged US$86.32/barrel in October. This

trend signifies a worrying sign, as prices are once

again heading in the upward direction. Market

analysts have implied that with growing specula-

tion, conflicts in Libya and Egypt, constraints in

product availability, growing demands by emerg-

ing markets in parts of Asia and South America

along with other market volatilities, this could

result in crude prices exceeding US$150/barrel

by summer 2012.

• High Prices, Energy-Economics and the

Environment

These figures do not augur well for Jamaica es-

pecially when coupled with the fact that per capi-

ta energy consumption in Jamaica is one of the

highest among developing countries. Conse-

quently, the cost of energy has adversely impact-

ed Jamaica’s ability to realize desirable levels of

economic growth particularly in the manufactur-

ing sector. The high cost of fuel has resulted in

many industries having high operating costs; the

repercussions of which are smaller profit mar-

gins.

Share of energy consumption

Energy consumption is heavily concentrated in

three areas: electricity generation, transportation

and bauxite mining. The share of energy con-

sumption in these three areas represents 33.0 per

cent, 46.0 per cent and 14.0 per cent, respectively

of the total energy consumption in Jamaica.

The private sector has the lion’s share of contri-

bution and will be engaged and encouraged to

participate in the national drive towards energy

conservation and efficiency efforts. The Govern-

ment of Jamaica is no exception in that it too fac-

es increased costs in utilities and transportation.

A recent analysis carried out by the Ministry of

Energy and Mining examined the government’s

electricity accounts and found that although there

was a 4.2 per cent reduction in electricity con-

sumption in 2010, the cost of electricity in 2010

increased by 18.0 per cent when compared with

2009. This increase amounted to a cost difference

of J$1.7 billion for the period being compared.

Energy Conservation and Efficiency: A Sustainable Response to Rising Oil Prices

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Another serious issue that we have always faced

and have now come to acknowledge as a critical

factor, is that of environmental impact. The use

of oil as fuel has detrimental consequences for

the environment. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a ma-

jor greenhouse gas that is released into the at-

mosphere when oil is burnt.

• The National Energy Policy: Driving

Greater Levels of Conservation and

Efficiency

The Government of Jamaica is taking a targeted

approach to reducing energy consumption and

improving energy efficiency, particularly in areas

that are energy intensive. In this regard, greater

emphasis will be placed on public awareness, the

provision of financing and provision of develop-

ing an appropriate institutional framework. The

National Energy Policy 2009–2030 has as one of

its seven priority areas energy conservation and

efficiency. Aligned to priority areas are seven

interrelated goals which when accomplished, will

achieve the vision of the energy sector. These

goals are as follows:

To achieve the goals set out in the policy, a mix

of short to medium-term as well as long-term

strategic directions and actions for the govern-

ment, private sector and industry, and civil socie-

ty must be pursued. The government intends to

lead by example by ensuring that the public sec-

tor implements ECE (energy conservation and

efficiency) as a matter of urgency in all the vari-

ous areas.

Goals – National Energy Policy Priority Areas

Goal

1

Jamaicans use energy wisely and

aggressively

Conservation

and Efficiency

Goal

2

Jamaica has a modernized and ex-

panded energy infrastructure

Energy Infra-

structure

Goal

3

Jamaica realizes its energy resource

potential through the development

of renewable energy sources

Renewable

Energy Sources

Goal

4

Jamaica’s energy supply is secure

and sufficient Energy Security

Goal

5

Jamaica has a well-defined and es-

tablished governance, institutional,

legal and regulatory framework

Governance and

Regulatory

Framework

Goal

6

Government ministries and agencies

are a model/leader in energy conser-

vation

Government is

a Leader in

Energy Conser-

vation

Goal

7

Jamaica’s industry structures em-

brace eco-efficiency

Eco-Efficiency

In Industry

Energy Conservation and Efficiency cont’d

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In addition, the National Energy Policy outlines

several key strategies to be pursued by the

Government of Jamaica in the area of energy

conservation and efficiency. Some of these strat-

egies are to:

• provide incentives/disincentives in order to

encourage the development and use of

innovative technologies to improve energy

efficiencies

• create relevant legislation to support required

investments in efficiency

• promote energy efficiency in the transport

sector by:

∗ promoting imports of more

fuel efficient vehicles

∗ providing adequate

infrastructure for transition to

alternative energy vehicles

∗ improving infrastructure and

enforcement of maximum axel

weight standards

∗ increasing mass transit

opportunities and utilization

• facilitate the introduction of energy-saving

devices e.g. LED (light-emitting diode), solar

panels, solar street lighting

• employ energy-saving approaches in building

design and construction

• promote energy conservation in the public

sector, particularly in the water supply

systems

• develop and implement effective education

and training programmes on energy conser-

vation at all levels of the education system.

• undertake studies and conduct consultations

with stakeholders on taxation levels for petro-

leum fuels (such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene,

natural gas) with a view to instituting a

system designed to enhance efficiency and

conservation

• develop and implement a relevant and sus-

tained public energy information programme

and information database

• update, apply and enforce the Energy Effi-

ciency Building Codes to support efficient

use of energy in buildings

• develop an energy information clearing house

• provide incentives for the installation of solar

water heaters and solar lights, where applica-

ble, in the public and private sectors and in

communities.

Energy conservation and efficiency practices are

the only short-term solution Jamaica has in re-

ducing energy consumption. Becoming more ef-

ficient refers to the amount of work you get out

of a device compared with the amount of energy

put into the device — the less energy a device

uses to get a certain amount of work done, the

more efficient it is. To conserve does not always

imply that we do not use our resources as needed

but rather that we are more responsible in the

manner in which we use the resources.

Energy Conservation and Efficiency cont’d

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In April 2009, there was an assessment of the possibility of transitioning from bottled water to bottle-less coolers. However, the matter of satisfactorily purifying the tap water remained. In 2011, the local distributor for Culligan presented options that addressed our concerns. It was clear that the Planning Institute could rid itself of the cost of bottled water, which was approximately $25 000.00 monthly. After much deliberation between the Facilities Management Unit and the supplier about the design that would be most cost effective and suitable for the PIOJ building, a solution was agreed upon. The installation of the Culligan drinking water system in the canteen has marked a step forward along the path of reducing expenditure for the Institute. The system is of the highest quality and the feedback from the staff so far has been positive. As a result, there is the guarantee that cool water will be available at all times for our staff. Drinking water system installed in the PIOJ’s canteen

PIOJ’S WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM

By Mrs. Ramona McConnel, Manager, Facilities Management Unit

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Green Team News is published in June and December by the Energy

& Resource Management Committee (ERMC)

Planning Institute of Jamaica.

Editorial Team Arlene Ononaiwu—Editor

Carole James Kim Hoo Fatt Richard Kelly

Odean Cole-Phoenix Omar Rainford—Design & Layout

For additional information on any of the articles presented or about the newsletter, please contact the

Green Team at: Planning Institute of Jamaica

16 Oxford Road P.O. Box 634 Kingston 5

Jamaica, West Indies Tel: (876) 960-9339, 906-4463/4

Fax: (876) 906-5011 E-mail: [email protected]

www.pioj.gov.jm

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