Uptake of Solar PV in the Caribbean & its potential role in reducing disaster risk

Transcription

1 Uptake of Solar PV in the Caribbean & its potential role in reducing disaster risk David C. Smith & Corrinne Graham Institute of Sustainable Development, The University of the West Indies & Graham International Consulting and Research Inc.

2 Caribbean Context Average energy costs in the Caribbean vary from 0.05 to 0.43 US$ /kwh but average at US$0.33 A deterrent to economic growth, but shortens payback time for alternative energy Natural Hazards, mostly cyclones, cause a high loss of life and economic damage. After an event there is frequently a loss of energy even for some lifelines

3 Caribbean Context A strong interest in going green probably driven by high dependence on imported oil Grenada: 8% have no access to electricity, 99% of electricity comes from imported fuels customers pay $0.40/kWh (Thomas 2014). Plans to increase renewables to 20% by 2020, focussing on geothermal, wind solar & OTEC (ibid).

4 Caribbean use Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Program Financed by Germany, GIZ Links to 10 online plants in 3 countries Barbados (3 plants 227 kwp) St Lucia (5 plants 48.8 kwp) Grenada (2 plants 22.3 kwp) 4&Itemid=37

5 Jamaican Context There is a national energy policy and a renewable energy policy 91% of energy from imported sources Target of 20% renewables by 2030 Expected 71,677MWh by 2015/16 No import duty on panels, LED lights etc. Net billing policy Initial cost barrier

6 Jamaican Context Net Billing costs USD750 to join the program plus a deposit of 3 months electricity bill. IDB study recommends that Jamaica is a favorable location for solar if net metering is used (net billing is current practice). The utility is a monopoly and strongly opposed to net metering

7 Recommendations (IDB report) **Portmore, and Jamaica at large, is suitable for a PV power plant Such PV systems will reduce dependency on traditional power plants and result in savings for the end consumer. Crystalline silicon module, either Mono or Multi crystalline cells are recommended for rooftop systems for residential and commercial. Thin film modules can also be used if there is space on the roof and is recommended where there is an unavoidable partial shadow on the installation area. ** a dormitory suburb of Kingston pop.>250,000

8 Recommendations (IDB report) PV rooftop systems for residential and commercial establishment are techno- economically feasible with net metering. PV systems in Jamaica presently cost considerably more than other parts of the world. Government should provide incentives and policies to reduce cost. A 1MWp PV grid plant could be established for a housing scheme & is technically and economically viable with a government supported tariff.

9 Use in Jamaica Hotels Commercial Industrial Academic: new construction on University of the West Indies: residences & teaching Residential Richmond Estate (street lighting) Discovery Bay Villas (all needs) Individual private homes Hospitals, Schools and other government buildings

10 Installations Grand Palladium Hotel: 1.6MW Cat 4 hurricane resistant (1,000 rooms) 100% ROI in 4.5years. Digicel Headquarters 14,000 sq m (also has a 492 MWh solar cooling plant) Caribbean and pacific headquarters Richmond Housing estate, street lighting (700 houses)

11 Grand Palladium Hotel

12 University of the West Indies

13 PV for a group of villas on the north coast

14 Solar in Hospitals PV Cornwall regional 3 KW Princess Margaret 2.5 KW At Ann s Bay 2.7 KW Water Heaters A total of litres/11074 gal over 7 Hospitals Much installed under a UNDP-Government project.

15 Disaster Risk Generators are a good option but have problems, especially in coastal, remote or hilly areas: fuel, mobile, may flood in wet events. Solar PV (built to withstand the likely hazards) may be better for some applications and should be able to operate soon after an event.

16 Solar after a Disaster Applications Maintaining the vaccine cold chain (+35.6 to +46.4ºF) Refrigeration Emergency lighting Operating & Emergency facilities Communications Hospitals and Clinics, especially rural areas

17 Requirements McCarney et. al indicate that for solar to be effective in remote areas of developing countries requires: (McCarney, S., Robertson, J., Arnaud, J., Lorenson, K., & Lloyd, J. (2013). Using solar-powered refrigeration for vaccine storage where other sources of reliable electricity are inadequate or costly. Vaccine ) Sustainable long-term Financing Use WHO or UNICEF certified equipment & suppliers only Qualified professionals for design Qualified technicians for installation, repair and maintenance Continuous monitoring of temperature SOPs to deal with problems

18 Problems household clients Up front costs are high Despite high electricity costs, the return period is still long, older persons may not invest. No readily available source of financing. Lack of quality control and certification So far only about 1% of households use PV

19 Problems for the sector Few certified technicians No certification programme Little experience More incentive required Bureaucracy (Lyn, D.,)

20 Opportunities Certification training to international standards Installations for commercial clients Installation within the health sector and other Government agencies Developing means of financing for commercial and small scale clients (including residential).

21 Opportunities Panel Manufacture St Kitts has started a plant Jamaica has indicated an interest in setting up a plant 60 million investment into Solar PV for the grid (20MW). 20 year PP Agreement (pv magazine) signed between the JPSCo. And WRB Enterprise (a Tampa-based company).

22 Opportunities. Financing Intercontinental lending opportunities Healthcare Management Operation Costs Life Style Economic Viability (Education/Job Opportunities) Carbon Footprint Strategic Partnership on Import/Export in alignment with President s proposed goal Goods, Services and Skilled Resources

23 Enabling Conditions IDB (Inter-America Development Bank) working with Japan and the Caribbean Development Bank to support expansion in the Eastern Caribbean currently there is a $15 million programme. The JPS CO will need to meet targets for renewables and is signing Power Purchase Agreements.

24 References Al Binger, Energy Efficiency Potential in Jamaica: challenges, opportunities and strategies for implementation, ECLAC, Chile, 2011 Inter-American Development Bank. Wigton Wind Farm Ltd. (2012). Feasibility Study of Solar Photovoltaic Facility for Portmore, Jamaica GRT/MC JA (JA - X1001) Jamaica s National Energy Policy Ministry of Energy and Mining Lyn, D. unpublished presentation to the American Chamber of Commerce in Jamaica. McCarney, S., Robertson, J., Arnaud, J., Lorenson, K., & Lloyd, J. (2013). Using solar-powered refrigeration for vaccine storage where other sources of reliable electricity are inadequate or costly. Vaccine 31 (2013)

25 References Kammen energy policy Thomas, S.L. (2014) The political economy of Transitioning to Green Economy in Grenada. in Transitioning to Green Economy Political economy of approaches in Small States. Smith, N., Halton, A. & Strachan, J. Eds. Commonwealth Secretariat. ECLAC estimates of damage

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