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Hopes rise for green economy boom at Africa Climate Summit

September 24, 2025 jrobinson

Renewables are thriving, with Africa breaking solar energy records – but action is needed to plug financing gap

The first signs of a takeoff of Africa’s green economy are raising hopes that a transformation of the continent’s fortunes may be under way, driven by solar power and an increase in low-carbon investment.

African leaders are meeting this week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the Africa Climate Summit, a precursor to the global UN Cop30 in November. They will call for an increase in support from rich countries for Africa’s green resurgence, without which they will warn it could be fragile and spread unevenly.

Richard Muyungi, the climate envoy and adviser to the president of Tanzania, said: “Africa is ready to be part of [the global fight to stave off climate breakdown] provided we are supported with finance, technology and capacity-building.

“There has been an increase of investments in some areas but Africa still needs a lot of financing to be able to be part of the global solution, and to address the challenges we are facing.”

Green energy is booming in Africa, with 20 countries breaking records for imports of solar panels in the 12 months to June. According to the thinktank Ember, imports of photovoltaic equipment from China rose by 60% over the past year, from 9GW in 2024 to 15GW of capacity, with a tripling of imports to countries outside South Africa.

Though the increase is impressive, it is from a low base. Africa, which boasts the greatest potential for solar power, has lagged far behind other countries in installations. Only 4% of global solar generation last year was in Africa, and in 2023, the International Energy Agency reported that Belgium had as many solar panels as the entire continent.

“There is a glimmer of light [in the increased investment] but this is still quite meagre compared to other continents in the global south,” Muyungi said.

Last year’s imported panels would add about 5% to current electricity generation capacity in 16 countries, according to Ember, but the need remains vast. About 600 million people in Africa lack access to electricity, and about a billion have only firewood or dirty fuels for cooking. Women and girls are worst affected.

Melaku Yirga, the regional director for Africa at Mercy Corps, a humanitarian organisation, said: “Renewable energy is not only Africa’s greatest opportunity, it is also an urgent necessity. Renewable power enables everything from irrigation and food storage to early-warning systems, healthcare and livelihoods.”

While recent increases in renewable energy investment were welcome, Yirga said the public sector and overseas aid were still vital.

“Africa has no shortage of ambition in renewable energy, but without stronger international finance and the right incentives, the private sector will remain on the sidelines and adaptation goals will go unmet,” he said.

“Private sector financing must be met with public commitments, and funding must also be long-term and reliable – short grants rarely achieve full impact, as meaningful engagement with governments and communities takes time and requires significant upfront investment.”

Reductions in overseas aid from rich countries are causing consternation among African governments, many of which are blighted by record debt burdens, exacerbated by the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and recent interest rate rises.

Macky Sall, the former president of Senegal, said: “The drop in official development assistance fundamentally changes the climate calculus. Where does that leave Africa, if we can no longer count on our partners’ promises?

“The costs of the climate crisis have fallen most heavily on Africa. We are not the cause. We are not only footing the largest bill – we are also seeing the cheques to stem the damage cancelled.”

Private sector companies will put cash into renewable energy, but few will help Africa adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis, which are already being felt in the form of droughts, floods and crop failures. Investment to build resilience – such as water storage systems, better infrastructure and new farming techniques – is lacking.

A report published at the summit on Monday showed that while Africa needed at least $70bn a year to adapt to the effects of the climate crisis, and possibly much more, only $15bn was provided in adaptation finance to the continent in 2023.

Without urgent action to address that vast financing gap, Africa’s future costs from climate impacts will balloon, wiping out a fifth of GDP by 2050.

Patrick Verkooijen, the chief executive of the Global Center on Adaptation thinktank, says rich countries must increase their finance for adaptation in Africa, which is responsible for only 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions while bearing the brunt of climate breakdown.

“Europe [and other countries] will shoot themselves in the foot if they defund ODA [official development assistance],” he said. “African leaders will see it as a stab in the back.”

While Africa is behind in climate adaptation, its riches are increasingly sought after by China and the rest of the rich world.

Africa has some of the biggest deposits of “critical minerals” – elements vital to building renewable energy components. Cobalt, lithium, copper, nickel, rare earths and other minerals are abundant in parts of Africa, which has spurred a global scramble for the resources.

Human rights abuses have soared in some mining areas, with child labour and the exploitation of adult workers, particularly women, in places such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Africa’s under-resourced public sector is struggling to contain the damage and ensure resource extraction is done responsibly, without causing environmental devastation and in a way that benefits local people.

Africa also abounds in gas, with reserves of the fossil fuel that have scarcely been tapped in some countries. Muyungi insisted they must be allowed to exploit those resources, despite the impact on the climate crisis. “We do not envisage anything to stop us using gas – we need it for our development,” he said.

For rich countries to tackle the climate crisis, Africa’s assistance will be essential. If global north governments fail to address the continent’s needs, they will feel the impact. Roughly 60% of Africa’s population is under 25, a “youthquake” that could spur development or, if poorly handled, will be felt around the world.

Abay Yimere, a scholar at the Climate Policy Lab at Tufts University in the US, said: “If the climate crisis is not tackled in Africa, that will be a problem for migration. If we do not provide them with jobs, and adapt to climate change, the impact will be huge and not controllable. The global north should look at this from their own national perspectives and see where their interest lies.”

This article was amended on 9 September 2025. An earlier version measured imports of solar panels from China in megawatts; this should have said gigawatts.

The Guardian

Energy Saving News Solar Energy solar panels sustainable development

Solar Panels that fit on your Balcony or Deck are Gaining Traction in the US

September 24, 2025 jrobinson

When Terrence Dwyer received a knock on his door and a flyer for a solar panel system small enough to fit on his deck, he was quickly sold. Solar systems that plug into regular wall outlets have been popular in Europe for years and are gaining traction in the U.S. for their affordability and simple installation.

“We thought absolutely, let’s do this right away,” said Dwyer, who lives in Oakland, California.

These small-scale solar systems could become attractive to more homeowners now that President Donald Trump’s sweeping budget-and-policy package will scrap residential rooftop solar tax credits and may shift interest to cheaper alternatives. Even before the GOP bill passed, manufacturers of the smaller systems known as plug-in or balcony solar were seeing increased demand and other positive signs such as a new Utah law streamlining regulations for homeowners to buy and install them. The systems about the size of a door haven’t been as widely adopted in the U.S. as in Europe because of lack of awareness, patchwork utility rules and limited availability.

The $2,000 plug-in solar system installed on Dwyer’s backyard deck in March consists of two 400 watt panels, an inverter, a smart meter and a circuit breaker. It saves him around $35 per month on his power bill because he is consuming less energy from the grid, but he said reducing his carbon footprint was his primary motivation.

“We like the environmental benefits of solar and wanted to engage with solar in some fashion,” Dwyer said.

Had Dwyer opted for rooftop solar, he would have paid $20,000 for the system and $30,000 to upgrade his roof to support the panels.

Installing a plug-in solar system requires some homework. What power companies let customers do with energy-generating equipment varies, which is why prospective purchasers should check their utility’s policies first. Building permits might be required depending on the municipality. Some systems can be self-installed, while others may require an electrician. For example, some kits have meters that must be wired into a home’s circuit breaker.

Removing hurdles for plug-in solar

Dwyer bought his system from Bright Saver, a nonprofit company in California that advocates for plug-in solar. In addition to the type Dwyer bought, the company also offers a smaller model costing $399 that recently sold out in six days.

“The interest and demand have been overwhelming,” said Cora Stryker, a founder of Bright Saver. “It is clear that we are hitting a nerve — many Americans have wanted solar for a long time but have not had an option that is feasible and affordable for them until now.”

Kevin Chou, another founder of Bright Saver, said wider adoption of the systems in the U.S. has been hindered by utility policies that create uncertainty about whether they’re allowed and a lack of state and local policies to make clear what rules apply.

Some utilities contacted by The Associated Press say plug-in solar systems require the same interconnection applications as rooftop panels that send electricity back to the wider network. But Steven Hegedus, an electrical engineering professor at University of Delaware, said he doesn’t understand why a utility would need to require an interconnection agreement for plug-in solar because, unlike rooftop systems, they are designed to prevent energy from flowing to the grid.

Still, if in doubt, a customer should follow their utility’s policy.

During the early days of plug-in solar’s growth, some opposition from utilities is likely since customers are buying less energy, said Robert Cudd, a research analyst at the California Center for Sustainable Communities at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“Utilities really prefer everyone being a predictable and generous consumer of the electricity they sell,” Cudd said.

This year, Utah enacted a novel law supporting plug-in solar by exempting certain small-scale systems from interconnection agreements and establishing safety requirements such as being certified by a nationally recognized testing organization such as Underwriters Laboratories. It appears to be the only state that’s passed legislation supporting plug-in solar, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Republican state Rep. Raymond Ward, who sponsored the legislation, said the smaller systems allow people to better manage where their energy comes from and what they pay.

“Europe has these things. You can go buy them and they work and people want them. There is no reason why we shouldn’t have them here in the United States,” Ward said.

Bright Saver says they are lobbying other states for similar legislation.

Alexis Abramson, dean of the University of Columbia Climate School, also applauded Utah’s move.

“We actually need more localities, more states putting in allowances for this type of equipment,” she said.

Plug-in solar availability and savings potential

Some questions remain about how much customers could save. Severin Borenstein, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, said the cost of some portable solar systems in the U.S. would make it hard for customers to come out ahead on their utility bills over the time they own them. He estimates the price of a $2,000 system in the U.S. works out to paying about $0.20 a kilowatt-hour over a 25-year period, which only saves people money if they have high utility costs. By comparison, Borenstein said the cost of systems sold in Europe, typically around $600, is equivalent to paying about $0.05 or $0.06 per kilowatt-hour over 25 years.

Baltimore resident Craig Keenan said saving money was only part of why he installed one of the smaller Bright Saver models on his balcony in July.

“I’m interested in renewable energy because the amount of carbon emissions that we produce as a species is very, very unsustainable for our world,” he said.

He said he expects the system will save him about $40 per year on utility bills, so it would take him about 10 years to recoup the cost of the kit.

Keenan, a mechanical engineer, said installation took him 10 to 15 minutes.

“I think anyone can install this,” he said. “It’s not complicated. It doesn’t require a technical degree.”

Other companies selling plug-in solar kits include Texas-based Craftstrom. It has sold about 2,000 systems in the U.S. since 2021, mostly in California, Texas and Florida. The company’s basic kits contain a solar panel that can fit in a backyard or other sunny space, along with equipment to maintain and regulate the flow of energy including an inverter and smart meter.

Kenneth Hutchings, Craftstrom’s chief revenue officer, said their U.S. sales rose this year even before the passage of the GOP tax bill, and he expects demand for plug-in solar to increase further as federal rooftop solar credits expire.

The company advises customers to notify their power company before installation, but it has “never had any pushback from any utility,” said Michael Scherer, one of the founders of Craftstrom.

China-based EcoFlow plans to begin selling plug-in solar systems in Utah and expand to other states if supportive legislation is passed, said Ryan Oliver, a company spokesperson.

“This is an example of where technology is sort of ahead of the regulators,” Oliver said, adding: “As this rolls out to more of a nationwide product, we expect it will become more mainstream as people understand it better.”

The Associated Press

Alternative Energy News Solar Energy solar panels

Solar panels in space ‘could provide 80% of Europe’s renewable energy by 2050’

September 1, 2025 jrobinson

Researchers also suggest system could resolve problems with irregular and weather-dependent Earth-based supply.

Solar panels in space could cut Europe’s terrestrial renewable energy needs by 80% by 2050, a study has found.

Using a detailed computer model of the continent’s future power grid, the researchers found that a system of space-based panels designed by Nasa could reduce the cost of the whole European power system by as much as 15%. It could also cut battery use by more than two-thirds.

The study, led by researchers at King’s College London, is the first to assess the possible impact of space solar energy on Europe. The space-based solar power (SBSP) panels that yielded the positive results uses a heliostat design. The design, which the system imitates, uses mirror-like reflectors to collect sunlight in orbit. The sunlight is then transmitted to stations on Earth and converted to electricity before it is delivered to an energy grid.

The computer model of the continent’s power grid spans 33 countries, and simulates electricity demand, generation and storage to identify the lowest-cost option to meet Europe’s electricity needs.

When the researchers integrated the SBSP concept into the model based on Nasa’s predictions of its potential energy capacity, results showed that it could replace as much as 80% of Europe’s land-based renewable energy.

Land-based renewable energy is irregular and weather-dependent, complicating reliable supply, and comes at varying costs, the researchers point out. SBSPs could be an alternative centralised energy resource that operates above the atmosphere with continuous gigawatt-scale power.

The authors note that the modelling does not account for potential impacts from space-specific challenges such as orbital congestion, transmission interruptions or beaming variability, which could influence SBSP reliability and operational performance.

Nor could the potential cost-effectiveness of SBSP be realised until 2050 because building, launching and maintaining it would be too expensive unless technological growth reduces its costs.

Dr Wei He, a senior lecturer at KCL’s engineering department and lead author of the study, which is published in Joule, said: “There are some risks to consider, such as how the satellite in space could have too many solar panels. Could it cause collisions or be damaged by debris in space?”

Despite those risks, Wei believes the research shows that SBSP has the potential to help countries in achieving net zero. “Renewable energy to replace fossil fuels is the most important action we are taking as humans. Space-based solar power is a potential technology and can provide continuous solar power as a renewable energy source,” he said.

Japan is already developing SBSP and integrating it into its space and net-zero strategy, Wei said.

Europe could follow suit, the paper suggests, mentioning the continent’s longstanding tradition of multinational cooperation of cross-border electricity exchange and satellite ventures under the European Space Agency.

The authors believe Europe could leverage its multinational cooperation to develop and operate a centralised SBSP infrastructure. In doing so, it could create a continent-scale solution to provide stable, baseload-scale renewable supply, reducing the continent’s reliance on gas-fired power.

“Now is the time,” Wei said.

The Guardian

Government News Solar Energy

US will proceed with probe of solar imports from India, Laos and Indonesia

September 1, 2025 jrobinson

The U.S. International Trade Commission voted on Friday to proceed with an investigation into whether solar panels from India, Laos and Indonesia are stifling domestic manufacturing, a key procedural step that could result in tariffs on those imports.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

The unanimous decision by the three-member panel is a victory for domestic solar manufacturers who say Chinese companies with operations in those countries receive unfair government subsidies and are selling their products below the cost of production in the United States. U.S. producers are seeking to protect billions of dollars of investment in American factories.

KEY QUOTE

“Today’s ITC decision confirms what our petitions allege: U.S. solar manufacturers are being undercut and harmed by unfairly traded imports. Chinese-owned and other companies in Laos, Indonesia, and India are gaming the system with unfair practices that are gutting U.S. jobs and investment,” said Tim Brightbill, lead counsel to the Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade and partner at Wiley Rein LLP.

CONTEXT

The case was brought in July by the alliance, a coalition of U.S. solar manufacturers including First Solar (FSLR.O) and Hanwha’s (000880.KS) Qcells.

Imports from India, Indonesia, and Laos surged to $1.6 billion last year, up from $289 million in 2022, according to the group. Many of these imports are believed to have shifted from countries already subject to U.S. tariffs on Southeast Asian solar exports.

WHAT’S NEXT

The U.S. Department of Commerce will continue investigations into the imports, with preliminary determinations on countervailing, or anti-subsidy, duties expected around Oct. 10 and on antidumping duties around Dec. 24.

Reuters

Electric Vehicles Government News

UK government announces £63m funding for EV charging infrastructure

September 1, 2025 jrobinson

Transport secretary promises to make buying electric cars ‘easier and cheaper’ as £700m subsidy package prepared.

The transport secretary has promised to make it “easier and cheaper” to buy electric cars, as the government announces £63m worth of funding to help build charging infrastructure.

Heidi Alexander said on Sunday she wanted to make it more affordable to switch to electric vehicles as she announced new money for councils and other bodies to spend on facilities to charge cars.

She announced £63m worth of funding for EV charging, with officials also finalising plans for a £700m package of subsidies to bring down the cost of buying a new electric car.

The money still falls short of the £950m pledged by the Conservatives for motorway charging points, however, which the Labour government scrapped last month, accusing the previous government of having failed to set aside funding for it.

UK-made EVs are expected to receive the most generous subsidies under the scheme, which would probably benefit the Japanese carmaker Nissan, which is gearing up to produce a new version of its Leaf electric car in Sunderland.

Support is expected to be targeted at the buyers of more affordable cars, meaning that premium and luxury vehicles such as those made by the US manufacturer Tesla and the new UK-made electric Range Rover and other Land Rover models soon to be launched by JLR may not be eligible.

Alexander said on Sunday: “We do need to make it easier and cheaper for people to buy an electric vehicle. So today we’re announcing really big investment, £63m in charging infrastructure across the country – £25m for councils.”

She said some of the money would be spent on new charging points, but the money for local authorities was to enable them to dig gullies under paving slabs to allow car owners to run charging cables across residential streets. An additional £30m would go to vehicle depots such as those used by the NHS.

Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, pledged £400m for charging infrastructure over the next five years at last month’s spending review – part of a £1.4bn fund to support the uptake of all EVs.

Just over 20% of new cars sold this year were electric, according to the data company Zap Map. But while the number of electric car sales increased by about 240% from 2021 to 2024, they still account for less than 5% of all the cars on British roads.

Ministers have set a target that electric cars should account of 28% of all new sales this year, though have introduced “flexibilities” into those rules that bring the real target down to about 22%, according to the thinktank New Automotive.

The Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government introduced the first purchase subsidies for EVs in 2011, when sales and the number of models on offer were tiny. However, the Conservatives ended the subsidies in 2022 amid concerns that the policy was expensive and mainly benefited wealthier households, in a move that was heavily criticised by carmakers.

The government is also seeking to boost domestic manufacturing of zero-emission vehicles, and separately announced on Sunday it would invest £2bn over the next five years on a range of technologies to help the industry.

Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, said: “We’re helping British carmakers get to the front of the pack by working hand in hand with investors to build a globally competitive electric vehicle supply chain in the UK.”

The Guardian

Energy Saving Government News Renewable Energy Solar Energy

CARICOM Summit| Holness urges private sector to power regional shift to renewables

July 15, 2025 jrobinson

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has called on Caribbean businesses to take the lead in transforming the region’s energy landscape, saying the time has come for bold investment in renewables to drive down costs and strengthen economic resilience.

His comments come amid confirmation that the Government of Jamaica will not renew the all-island licence of the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) when it expires in 2027, a move that signals a major shift in the country’s energy future.

Speaking at the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) breakfast at Sandals Montego Bay on Tuesday, Monday, Holness said the Caribbean is blessed with abundant renewable resources, from solar and wind to hydro and geothermal, and must leverage them to reduce the high cost of living.

“Every island is bathed with incredible solar energy,” he said. “Some of us have wind, some hydro, some geothermal. The question is, how can we cooperate to use it beneficially for all?”

He pointed to hydrogen as a potential game-changer, referencing discussions with European partners interested in sourcing clean hydrogen from the Caribbean, should the region be able to convert its renewable energy at scale.

“If we can convert our solar and wind into hydrogen, there is a huge market we could supply endlessly,” Holness said. “I am throwing that out to the business community. We need you to apply greater innovation in the energy sector.”

Jamaica’s own decision to end the JPS monopoly has reenergized the conversation on energy independence and competition. With the current agreement ending in 2027, the government now has an opportunity to open the energy sector to new players, including regional and international investors in renewable infrastructure.

Holness did not directly address the JPS decision in his speech, but his remarks on innovation, regional collaboration, and de-risking frameworks for green energy investment struck a clear tone of urgency.

“Most of us are struggling with the overarching cost of living. Energy is a big part of that,” he said. “Government must provide the regulatory and de-risking support, but the private sector must seize the economic opportunity.”

Energy costs remain among the highest operational burdens for Caribbean businesses and households, affecting everything from food prices to digital services.

He also framed energy security as part of a broader national security strategy, protecting not just electricity access, but economic and cyber infrastructure. “Security is not just violence. It is the security of our telecommunications, our shipping and logistics, our financial systems. Energy underpins all of it.”

Jamaica Gleaner

Government News Renewable Energy

Trump joins tech and energy executives amid AI push

July 15, 2025 jrobinson

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, July 15 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump joined executives from some of the largest U.S. tech and energy companies for a summit in Pittsburgh on Tuesday as the administration prepares more measures to power the U.S. expansion of artificial intelligence.

Top economic rivals, the U.S. and China, are locked in a technological arms race over who can dominate AI as the technology takes on increasing importance everywhere from corporate boardrooms to the battlefield.

The Energy and Innovation Summit at Carnegie Mellon University brought tech executives and officials from top energy and tech firms, including Meta (META.O), Microsoft (MSFT.O), Alphabet (GOOGL.O) and Exxon Mobil (XOM.N), to discuss how to position the U.S. as a leader in AI.

Trump and the summit’s host, U.S. Senator Dave McCormick, a Republican ally from Pennsylvania, highlighted some $90 billion in artificial intelligence and energy investments in the state.

“This is a really triumphant day for the people of the Commonwealth and for the United States of America, we’re doing things that nobody ever thought possible,” Trump told the attendees.

Big Tech is scrambling to secure enough electricity to power the energy-guzzling data centers needed for its rapid expansion of artificial intelligence.

Companies began announcing their plans early on Tuesday, with Google inking a $3 billion electricity deal and CoreWeave (CRWV.O) touting a $6 billion AI data center.

Google said it secured as much as 3 gigawatts of U.S. hydropower in a deal between the tech firm and Brookfield Asset Management (BAM.TO) that includes initial 20-year power purchase agreements for electricity generated from two facilities in Pennsylvania.

Asset management firm Blackstone’s (BX.N) President Jon Gray also said they will announce on Tuesday a $25 billion investment in data centers and energy infrastructure in Pennsylvania.

The CEOs that attended included Khaldoon Al-Mubarak of Abu Dhabi investment company Mubadala, Rene Haas of Arm (O9Ty.F), Larry Fink of BlackRock (BLK.N), Darren Woods of Exxon Mobil, Brendan Bechtel of Bechtel and Dario Amodei of Anthropic.

The White House is considering executive actions in the coming weeks to make it easier for power-generating projects to connect to the grid and also provide federal land on which to build the data centers needed to expand AI technology, Reuters previously reported.

The administration is also weighing streamlining permitting for data centers by creating a nationwide Clean Water Act permit, rather than requiring companies to seek permits on a state-by-state basis.

Trump ordered his administration in January to produce an AI Action Plan that would make “America the world capital in artificial intelligence” and reduce regulatory barriers to its rapid expansion.

That report, which includes input from the National Security Council, is due by July 23.

Trump is set to mark that deadline with a major speech as part of an event titled “Winning the AI Race,” organized by White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks and his co-hosts on the All-In podcast, a White House official told Reuters.

U.S. power demand is hitting record highs this year after nearly two decades of stagnation as AI and cloud computing data centers balloon in numbers and size across the country.

The demand is also leading to unprecedented deals between the power industry and technology companies, including the attempted restart of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania between Constellation Energy (CEG.O) and Microsoft.

The surge has led to concerns about power shortages that threaten to raise electricity bills and increase the risk of blackouts, while slowing Big Tech in its global race against countries like China to dominate AI.

Reuters

Electricity Government News Renewable Energy

Gov’t will not renew JPS contract under existing terms — Vaz

July 15, 2025 jrobinson

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government has signalled it will not be renewing the Jamaica Public Service’s (JPS) all-island licence to supply electricity without re-negotiation of the current terms, and is open to exploring other contracts with interested parties.

Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport Daryl Vaz made the announcement during a press briefing on Tuesday.

He indicated that the Government’s position was that the licence itself, which was signed for a 20-year period and gives JPS the power to operate, was “flawed”, resulting in “flawed service”. However, the Government will continue to operate under those conditions as mandated, until its expiry in 2027.

“In the meantime, the Government of Jamaica is going to start looking at our options, [those] options include any and everybody. Whoever it is that we end up going to the table with for a final negotiation for a new licence with new terms as of May 2027 will be terms that are favourable to the Jamaican people,” he said.

Vaz maintained that, under its current terms, the licence has not served the country well.

“The terms under the current licence have yielded electricity prices which are amongst the highest in the region. The arrangements are deeply flawed and in need of significant reform,” he said.

Forefront in that reform must be an increase in the use of renewable energy to generate the country’s electricity, according to Vaz.

“There has been a significant global reduction in the cost of renewables. The Government of Jamaica is determined that consumers of electricity in Jamaica should be placed in the best position to benefit from these developments. The current licensing arrangements with the JPS does not provide sufficient incentives to bring renewables onto the grid at scale, and it provides for generation via imported fossil fuels which is not cost-effective,” the minister said.

JPS was informed by letter of the Government’s intention to renegotiate, via condition 27 of the current licence, which allows the Government to acquire the licensed business at the expiration of the term of the licence, Vaz explained.

He stressed that the Government does not intend to take over electricity provision, and will instead renegotiate.

The minister maintained that the timing of the announcement, months before an election is expected to be called, was in fact the best “first opportunity presented to the current administration” to renegotiate the contract from a position of authority, pre-empting accusations of it being an election ploy.

“These were the timelines…July 8th 2023 for the Government to communicate to the licensee… and 2027, for the expiry of the existing licence,” he said.

Added Vaz, “We are getting an opportunity to draw a line in the sand, learn from our mistakes on an even keel to get the best results.”

In fending off the possibility of lower quality of service as the contract comes to an end, Vaz said he would deal with any dip in service quality by employing the strength of the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), but stressed he did not expect this to happen.

Jamaica Observer

Electricity Government JPS News Renewable Energy Solar Energy

“Renewable Momentum: From Policy to Practice”

July 15, 2025 jrobinson

Solar Buzz Jamaica commends the Government’s recent announcements on the non-renewal of the current JPS licence and its renewed emphasis on expanding renewables to lower electricity costs. These measures echo proposals that industry bodies – including the Jamaica Renewable Energy Association (JREA) for over a decade and the recently formed JMEA Energy Committee – have advanced.

While the renewed focus is welcome, the real measure of success will be in how swiftly and effectively the Government addresses the practical hurdles that have slowed our energy transition.

Government Announcements

JPS Licence Renewal
On July 1st 2025, Minister Daryl Vaz confirmed that Jamaica Public Service’s all-island licence will not be renewed under its current terms when it expires on July 8th 2027.

Private-Sector Leadership
At the CARICOM summit days later, Prime Minister Andrew Holness encouraged businesses to invest boldly in renewables, highlighting their role in lowering bills and building resilience.

Net-Billing: A Critical Bottleneck

Distributed rooftop solar has enormous potential to reduce system demand, stabilize the grid, and deliver low-cost energy to all Jamaicans.

Yet the Net-Billing framework remains encumbered by:

Complex Application Requirements — multiple technical reviews and declarations that can feel duplicative.
Substantial Up-Front Fees — including a J$19,000 non-refundable processing charge.
Prolonged Approval Timelines — often stretching weeks or months beyond statutory targets.

These procedural barriers deter many prospective applicants and slow the very renewable deployment the Government now champions.

Residential Tax Breaks: Unintended Consequences

In March 2025, MSET imposed the Net-Billing licence requirement for homeowners applying for residential renewables tax credits just days before the April 1st 2025 deadline. The last-minute rule change stipulated that only those with approved Net-Billing licences would qualify – a requirement that was not initially imposed when the incentive was announced with great fanfare.

Although Minister Vaz granted a limited extension until April 1st 2025, this effectively means all homeowners with solar systems now need a Net-Billing licence or risk operating illegally. This is not only impractical and, at this point, impossible to govern, but the Electricity Act itself states that homeowners who self-generate power from solar, with no intention of selling back, are exempt from needing a Net-Billing licence.

Recommendations for Practical Progress

To convert policy intent into real-world impact, we urge the Government to:

Set and Enforce Clear Timelines
Institute a statutory 10-business-day window for Net-Billing licence decisions, with automatic escalation if unmet.
Simplify Documentation
Review and eliminate overlapping technical or financial declarations to streamline the customer experience.
Stabilize Incentive Rules
Publish any changes to tax-credit eligibility at least six months before they take effect, ensuring homeowners can plan with certainty – and clarifying that self-generating systems with batteries do not require a Net-Billing licence.

Engage Stakeholders Continuously
Convene regular working groups with industry, regulators, and consumer representatives to monitor progress and troubleshoot emerging issues – rather than announcing new policies that do not sync with the Vision 2030 policy or the Government’s renewed focus on high energy costs.

Solar Buzz Jamaica stands ready to partner with MSET, the Office of Utilities Regulation, Tax Administration of Jamaica and other stakeholders to translate today’s announcements into tomorrow’s clean-energy achievements.

With targeted adjustments to Net-Billing procedures and tax-incentive clarity, we can accelerate the deployment of distributed rooftop solar across the island – not just large, tendered grid installations – bringing lower bills, greater job creation, and enhanced resilience for all Jamaicans, especially at the residential level.

Jason Robinson
Chief Executive Officer
Solar Buzz Jamaica

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Investment in big batteries booms as Australia’s energy transition gathers pace

June 7, 2025 jrobinson

Investment in big batteries hit $2.4bn in the first three months of 2025, making it the second strongest quarter for energy storage on record in Australia.

The latest data from the Clean Energy Council found six new storage projects – totalling 1.5 gigawatts capacity – reached financial close (the financial commitment that means the project is likely to be built) and a level of investment last seen in the final quarter of 2023 with a record $2.8bn.

The largest was the four-hour Wooreen battery system in Victoria, at 350MW, which was supported by the federal government’s capacity investment scheme.

Three large-scale battery systems in South Australia, one in Queensland and one in New South Wales also reached financial close.

Renewable energy had a slower start to the year, with two solar farms – totalling 386MW and $410m investment – reaching financial close. A quieter first quarter was typical, the CEC said, with investment ramping up throughout the year.

“Over the past five years, new investment commitments in the first quarter of the year have averaged 427MW, compared to a Q4 average of 1,153MW over the same period,” it said.

By the end of March, 82 renewable energy projects had either reached financial commitment or were under construction, representing 12GW of capacity.

The strong result for storage in the first quarter followed Australia’s biggest yearfor clean energy investment in 2024, in which rooftop solar installations on homes and businesses raced past 4m, the CEC’s annual snapshot found.

Investment in large-scale renewable energy hit $9bn, a 500% increase on 2023. This combined with investment in energy storage to deliver the nation’s highest clean energy investment on record at $12.7bn.

The CEC’s chief policy and impact officer, Arron Wood, said political certainty would continue to help drive the “eye-watering” levels of private sector investment needed for the government to meet its target of 82% renewable energy by 2030.

“The target is ambitious, but it’s achievable,” Wood said. “With the election behind us, inflation easing and strong industry participation in the Capacity Investment Scheme, the early signs suggest we can expect to see private sector investment in both renewable power generation and battery storage projects continue to increase as the year progresses.”

Renewable energy provided 40% of Australia’s total electricity generation in 2024, up from 39.4% in 2023. The CEC report said an additional 6GW from wind and solar farms would be needed annually by 2030 to replace retiring coal generation.

“The Clean Energy Australia report has a lot of really good news in it,” Wood said, adding that it showed investment flowed with the right policy settings and continuity.

“The willingness to build Australia’s energy transition is there. But that’s not something where you can just set and forget.”

New transmission lines were critical to maintaining the pace, along with connecting projects to the grid as quickly and efficiently as possible, Wood said. Working with communities to build support for the transition and maximise local benefits was also important.

The director of Clean Energy Finance, Tim Buckley, said there was cause for optimism but maintaining the pace of investment and development required much quicker approvals, construction and commissioning.

“We need to get speed and scale way beyond current rates, particularly with extended delays to grid connection,” he said.

“There is great momentum, and more to do,” said Anna Skarbek, the chief executive of Climateworks Centre.

She said the electricity transition was tracking well in terms of replacing fossil fuels with renewable power.

“We know that to achieve a prosperous economy, in a fully decarbonised global economy, when all sectors are net zero – that actually will use a lot more electricity than what we use today,” she said.

Reaching the government’s legislated target of net zero by 2050 would mean at least a doubling in electricity demand as other sectors including transport, mining and industry sought to cut their emissions.

“We know that Australia has the capacity to do that,” Skarbek said. “Australia does have very large-scale potential to use renewable energy in its heavy industry sectors, and that’s a really important contribution to global trade. And also we have world-class solar penetration at what’s considered small scale or distributed energy in households.”

The Guardian

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