About Jamaica Public Service
EXPLORING RENEWABLES
JPS is continuing its exploration of renewable energy sources, as part of the strategy to gradually reduce dependence on oil for electricity generation.
The two most recent projects under consideration have included hydro and wind power. These will result in an addition of 9 megawatts (MW) of capacity, once the second project is completed. The two projects are: a 6.3-megawatt hydroelectricity power plant in Maggotty, St Elizabeth, and a 3-megawatt wind farm in Munro, St Elizabeth. They were approved by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) in 2008, when JPS responded to the regulator’s invitation for proposals for additional energy from renewables.
The 4-turbine Munro Wind Farm has now been constructed. It was officially commissioned, in October 2010.
The new hydro project will see the expansion of the existing hydroelectricity plant in Maggotty. This plant now accounts for close to 30 percent of the 21 MW of installed hydropower owned by JPS. The wind farm on the other hand is the first wind project to be implemented by JPS. It has been built as a pilot, with plans for future expansion. Both projects are expected to cost an estimated US$38.7 million.
JPS is also exploring a number of other initiatives as part of efforts to reduce its dependence on oil. These include the recent partnership agreement with Petrojam for the construction of a Petcoke plant at Hunts Bay in Kingston and a project to convert the Bogue combined cycle plant in Montego Bay to use Compressed Natural Gas.
These initiatives are expected to save the Company and, by extension, consumers, millions of dollars in fuel costs each year.
