Jamaica has been at the forefront of the green energy movement in the Caribbean, particular with its focus on solar and wind. 

And now it’s launching another Caribbean innovation: a floating solar project. 

The new “floating” project will consist of floating solar photovoltaic panels at the Mona Reservoir in St Andrew. 

The project will see the placement of 45 megawatts of solar panels on the surface of the reservoir, generating clean, renewable energy for the site. 

The $62.5 USD million project is being undertaken by Derillion Energy Limited. 

Most of the energy generated from the panels will be used in the treatment and pumping of the water. 

But that’s not the only benefit. 

Because the panels are deployed on the reservoir surface, they reduce evaporation of the water. 

“We will have some storage capacity, meaning that when the sun goes down, we will still be able to benefit from the solar energy that is created,” said Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness. 

The launch comes after a small 50-kilowatt floating power plant was commissioned at the Mona Reservoir as a pilot project in June. 

That system is already reducing energy costs at the reservoir significantly. 

“Years of research and technological advances have shown that solar water pumping is a viable way to save on energy costs,” said Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. “Not only is it environmentally sustainable but has also proven to be operationally and financially beneficial.”

The multi-phased project will be completed in 2024.