Rainford
Mark Titus,
ABSTRACT
Towards the Domestic Adoption of Wind and Solar Energy Technologies: Assessing Awareness, Knowledge, Attitudes and Predicting Householder Behaviour
Davina W. Gayle
This exploratory study assessed awareness and knowledge levels of Jamaican household heads, their attitude towards microgeneration technologies specifically wind turbines and solar panels, as well as the likelihood of them changing from conventional energy sources to renewable using these technologies.
The diffusion of innovations theory, theory of reasoned action and theory of planned behaviour formed the theoretical framework of the research.
Two hundred household heads living in urban and rural, lower to upper class neighbourhoods, with ages ranging 19 to 85, participated in a KAP survey. Respondents were selected based on a mix of quota, convenience and purposive nonprobability sampling.
The findings showed high awareness levels of microwind turbines and solar panels; low to moderate knowledge levels of these technologies and the renewable energy they generate; generally a favourable attitude towards both; and a modest percentage of household heads indicated the likelihood of installing a wind turbine or solar panel in the near future.
Further research is needed.
It is recommended that although some household heads may be willing to make the change from conventional energy sources to wind and solar powered using microgeneration technologies, intervention is needed from government and civil society, for there to be wide scale behaviour change.
Keywords: Davina W. Gayle; Wind and solar energy technologies; Jamaica
NB: This study was not commissioned by the JSEA, but was intended for the public domain, via organizations such as the JSEA, to help promote the use of Renerwable Energy in Jamaica
Full Document
http://jsea.org.jm/docs/Wind%
LATIN America and the Caribbean’s renewable energy endowment is large enough to cover its projected 2050 electricity needs 22 times over, according to a new report commissioned by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The report, Rethinking our Energy Future, argues that lower prices and new technologies are making renewables a viable alternative. Solar, geothermal, wave, wind and biomass sources in this region could produce up to 80 petawatt-hour of electricity.
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A solar panel is seen in this photo. Lower prices and new technologies are making solar, wind and other resources competitive with fossil fuels for power generation, according to the Inter-American Development Bank.
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One petawatt-hour is equivalent to one trillion kilowatt-hour, roughly three times the amount of electricity Mexico consumes in one year. At present, Latin America generates 1.3 petawatt hour. By 2050, demand is expected to grow to between 2.5 to 3.5 petawatt- hour.
The report addresses a series of myths surrounding renewable energies, noting that several of these alternative technologies have become price competitive with conventional technologies, offer good investment opportunities and should be taken into consideration by policymakers aiming to diversify their national energy matrixes, reduce fuel supply vulnerabilities and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
“Though Latin America uses more renewable energy than any other region in the world, it faces difficult choices as it seeks to generate the electricity it needs to grow without harming the environment,” said IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno. “Renewables are becoming a viable and attractive option that needs to be explored.”
The report was presented yesterday in Bogot
The United
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)
Phillip Paulwell – File
Damion Mitchell, Editor – Radio & Online
The Science, Technology, Energy & Mining Minister, Phillip Paulwell, is to meet with private sector stakeholders in Montego Bay this afternoon.
They are to explore investments opportunities within the industry.
There have been increasing calls for Jamaica to shift its reliance on oil to produce energy and instead pursue other sources like wind and solar.
Paulwell says he wants to facilitate the interest of potential investors in the energy sector.
The forum is scheduled to be held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.
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MONTEGO BAY, St James – Western Jamaicans wanting to explore business opportunities in the island’s energy sector are being facilitated at an Energy Panel Discussion and Exhibition titled
MONTEGO BAY, St James – Western Jamaicans wanting to explore business opportunities in the island’s energy sector are being facilitated at an Energy Panel Discussion and Exhibition titled
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