Above: the Grand Palladium in Jamaica

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Jamaica is targeting the installation of green energy solution in Jamaica hotels, according to Energy Minister Philip Paulwell.

The Minister said the push came against what he called the administration’s “recognition of the need to source and provide alternative energy options to oil, on which Jamaica has become heavily dependent for power generation.”

He made the remarks at a ceremony to commission a new $3.5 million USD solar energy system at the Grand Palladium Hotel.

That project produces a total of 1600 kilowatts of energy.

“The Government is playing a major role in ensuring that our small hoteliers can institute renewable energy solutions that can result in cost savings and reductions in their energy consumption,” Paulwell said.

The regional Caribbean Hotel Energy Efficiency Action project is already being implemented across the region, with a special emphasis on hotels under 400 rooms.

“So far, Jamaica and the Bahamas are the leading countries, with 10 small and medium sized hotels, in benefitting from energy audits and other assistance,” he said.

The Grand Palladium project will produce 16 hours of energy each day for 20 of the Grand Palladium’s villas.

“We have also put in place a mechanism which allows solar energy producers to sell to the national grid any excess energy that they produce through a net billing arrangement. I have already issued 170 licenses for persons to connect to the national grid and start earning from their investment,” Paulwell said.