For Many Jamaicans, Green Energy Struggles to Catch On

Above: the wind farm at Wigton

Jamaican Energy Minister Clive Mullings said he is not happy with the current take-up level of renewable energy devices in the country.

The level of response to renewables was not comforting, he said, against the background of high energy costs, the availability of lower interest rates at financial institutions and increased accessibility to financing for such devices.

While Mullings said he would continue a push to convince Jamaicans to use green energy, a major obstacle was cost.

“The challenge will always remain cost,” he said. “With the residential users of energy, in terms of solar, the challenge has always been cost. We have to get people into the notion of buying into energy, so you invest in renewables and it pays back over time.”

More and more banks are now developing and offering financial instruments to facilitate the purchase of renewable appliances; most recently, Jamaica’s Capital and Credit Merchant Bank announced financing of up to $58,000 to purchase green energy devices.

Jamaica’s National Housing Trust continues to offer loans for solar water heaters as well.

While it seems an uphill battle, the country is moving forward on several renewable projects — from a pilot programme from US company Green RG and the already-active wind farm at Wigton.