Major Focus on Alternative Energy

Newly appointed Minister of Energy and Mining, Hon. Clive Mullings, is calling on Jamaicans to be more knowledgeable about energy consumption in their households, in their daily travels and at the workplace. In so doing, householders will be able to control what they spend monthly to meet their domestic energy needs.

Mr. Mullings said consumers must ensure that the appliances they purchase are energy efficient, and that they are aware of what causes spikes in energy usage.

He said “the reason why, in some instances, the bill goes up, is that the house is locked up and is very hot, and the refrigerator, by virtue of the increasing pressure on the outside, is continuously working.”

Mr. Mullings points out that 65 per cent of energy consumption is in refrigeration and air-conditioning, and the Government is actively examining the use of the current hydro carbon refrigerant, which is highly inefficient.

“We have to see how best we can minimise the utilisation of that in appliances or make our consumers aware that when they are purchasing equipment, they don’t just buy the cheapest one, but they look at the energy efficient one,” he argues.

The Minister also cites other strategies that consumers can adopt to minimise energy consumption, including opening windows to increase air flow, using the water heater for no more than five to 10 minutes and restricting the frequent use of irons.

“Unlike the leaking pipe where you can see water gushing, you don’t see the electricity gushing. For the refrigerator, you have to get into the culture of not going in and out like a revolving door, because you are affecting your consumption. These things add up,” he notes.

Mr. Mullings recommends that private companies can request of the Jamaica Public Service, a graph of their energy consumption pattern. This will enable them to identify periods of high energy use, analyse these times and take corrective decisions.

Meanwhile, the Government has stepped up its effort to boost its renewable energy strategy, through the commissioning of a Wind Mapping study.

This study is being undertaken by Wigton Wind Farm Limited, an agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mining, through the PCJ.

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 increasing its available stock of alternative energy sources, which will assist in reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuel.

"A loan has been received and the process has already begun. We expect that that wind map will allow not only for putting up turbines, but [will] encourage private investors to come in, because then you’ll know where to put up wind turbines,” he said.

The wind mapping exercise complements the vision for the country’s energy sector under the National Energy Policy. This policy seeks to provide the framework for the sustainable management of energy resources and for the development of viable renewable energy resources, which is expected to represent some 20 per cent of the country’s energy mix by 2030.

Mr. Mullings points out that the study is also necessary because not every location that is windy or has a strong gust of wind is suitable.

"If the flow is inconsistent, then the output from the turbine is inconsistent and it affects the grid's stability and its delivery,” he added.