The Caribbean Development Bank has approved $25 million in funding to replace existing street lights in Jamaica with high efficiency LED lamps.

The project facilitate the replacement of approximately 105,000 high pressure sodium and mercury vapor streetlights.

“Street lights are a critical national service, as they facilitate personal safety, as well as the safe operation of the transportation sector,” said Daniel Best, Director of Projects, CDB. “However, street lights in Jamaica are the second largest consumer of electricity, representing 15 percent of total public sector energy consumption.

“This project is expected to reduce electricity consumption for street lights by approximately 65 percent per year,” he continued. “In addition, it is expected that it will significantly contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Jamaica.”

Jamaica is on track to achieve its renewable energy target of 30 percent by 2030, if it continues to reduce its expenditure on imported petroleum products.

In 2016, spending on street lighting was evaluated at $20 million per year.

The lamps in existing street lights have an approximate lifespan of six years, and a failure rate of 20 percent per year.

The Streetlight Retrofitting Project will include the supply and installation of the high-efficiency LED streetlights and related smart controllers.

— Dana Niland, CJ Contributor