Vaz rubbishes Opposition’s criticisms of Government’s energy policy
MINISTER with responsibility for energy Daryl Vaz has defended the Administration’s handling of the energy sector in the wake of claims by the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) that the Government is to be blamed for the high electricity prices Jamaicans now face.
Making his presentation to the 2025/26 Budget Debate last week, Opposition spokesman on finance Julian Robinson slammed the Government over its energy policy as he pointed out that the cost of electricity in Jamaica is more than US$0.40 per kilowatt hour (kWh), while it was as low as US$0.22/kWh during the last PNP Administration.
That theme was continued by Opposition Leader Mark Golding during his presentation to the budget debate on Tuesday as he charged that the Andrew Holness Administration had dropped the ball as it failed to issue regular request for proposals (RFPs) for additional renewable energy for years which could have resulted in lower electricity prices for Jamaicans.
But during a mid-morning media briefing on Tuesday Vaz scoffed at the PNP’s claim that the high cost of electricity was due to Government’s inability to develop a sustainable renewable energy framework.
Vaz listed a multiplicity of factors he said caused the delay, rejected the narrative that little progress has been made in the renewable energy sector, and described the Opposition’s claims as “disingenuous and misleading”.
According to Vaz, measurable achievements and strategic investments in renewables underscore the Government’s commitment to achieving an evidence-based, sustainable, and affordable resilient energy future for Jamaica.
“Data clearly refutes claims of inaction and demonstrates a consistent, structured approach to energy diversification and transformation. The increase in electricity prices between 2016 and 2024 was not due to a lack of renewable energy deployment but rather global scenarios linked to fossil fuel volatility, inflation, supply chain disruptions and geopolitical issues.
“The Government’s renewable energy expansion remains on track, ensuring long-term energy affordability and security for Jamaica. More renewables are coming but at the right time and in the right way as we continue to lower the cost for all our citizens. Together we are building a cleaner and more secure energy future for Jamaica,” Vaz said.
He argued that detractors are spreading propaganda because the island is now in the “silly season” with a general election near.
“This is something that is ongoing and it is not specific to my ministry or to energy but there is just a lot of misconceptions, misleading, and disingenuous information. What I can say specifically is that I encourage all well-thinking Jamaicans to get the facts and most importantly judge the policies and performance of those who are putting themselves forward in the upcoming election,” Vaz said.
“We are not perfect, but definitively we have a lot of runs on the board and our job will be to make sure and put those out in the public domain so people can examine and make informed decisions,” added Vaz.
The energy minister said significant progress has been made in expanding the energy portfolio, guided by a robust policy framework and strategic investments.
He said several factors, including surging fossil fuel prices, the Russia-Ukraine war, and global supply chain disruptions have contributed to the high price for electricity.
Vaz argued that while renewable energy technology costs have declined over time, the transition from fossil fuels must be a planned, orderly and well-timed process.
Kevin Wen is one of a growing number of Australians with rooftop solar who have decided the economics of installing a battery storage system finally stack up.
In 2022, Mr Wen was getting about 15 cents per kilowatt-hour for exporting his excess energy back into the grid.
“Then they lowered the buyback price to 8 cents, and then 5 cents, and then 3 cents now,” Mr Wen tells ABC News.
“I just think it’s a scam, so now I would like to use my energy for myself.”
Kevin Wen has installed a battery at his Sydney home after falling solar feed-in tariffs. (ABC News: John Gunn)
He’s far from alone. About 75,000 battery storage systems were installed across Australia last year — up 47 per cent from 2023.
That brings the total of home battery storage systems across the country to more than 320,000, according to solar energy consultancy SunWiz.
Chris Williams, CEO of Natural Solar, a company that now installs about 100 batteries a week, says the reduction in solar feed-in tariffs has been a tipping point for many of his customers.
“Solar feed-in tariffs, effectively, are a rate that the household will receive when power is sent back to the grid during the day from your solar panels,” Mr Williams says.
“Now, that rate, historically, may have been 15 cents or 20 cents per kilowatt-hour fed back to the grid.
“What we’re seeing today, that might be as low as, you know, 2 or 3 cents in New South Wales, in Victoria, it might be as low as, you know, less than 1 cent.”
Solar tariffs have also been as high as 60 cents per kilowatt-hour in Victoria, while New South Wales also offered generous incentives for the solar power people used themselves.
In certain circumstances, Mr Williams says, nowadays households will actually be charged for sending power back to the grid.
“Instead of making money, they’ll actually have to pay a fee to send that power back.”
Mr Williams’s business has received 250 per cent more battery enquiries since the regulated price increases were announced just last week.
“Consumers and households are very sensitive at this point in time, particularly on the back of the cost-of-living crisis we’re in, when they see that their power price is going to go up.”
Solar installs dwarf battery take-up
Households can save about $1,500 a year on power bills with rooftop solar, and another $1,000 with battery storage, according to the Smart Energy Council.
More than 4 million Australian households and businesses have rooftop solar but, despite the additional savings, only about one in 12 have battery storage.
The high purchase price of batteries has been a barrier for many.
“Batteries are, on average, around about $10,000 per system.
“We have seen prices come down year-on-year by between 5 and 10 per cent and we do expect that trend to continue,” Mr Williams says.
“The average battery should have a return on investment between six to eight years before subsidies — including subsidies, that may be as little as five to seven years for the average household.”
Solar energy consultancy SunWiz has crunched the numbers on how long it takes to make your money back on a combined solar and battery system.
The “payback time” now sits at about 8.3 years, which includes a mix of subsidised and non-subsidised systems.
Battery subsidies are currently only available through the New South Wales and the Northern Territory governments.
Other jurisdictions — like Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT — offer interest-free loans for batteries.
As the federal budget and election loom, there are calls for a national government subsidy, similar to the existing scheme for rooftop solar, to further reduce the cost of batteries.
“Solar energy, of course, doesn’t work at night-time, so what we want is a battery booster scheme that helps people take the energy from the middle of the day and use it in the evening when they’re home from work and school,” Smart Energy Council CEO John Grimes tells ABC News.
The Smart Energy Council, a peak body for the renewable energy industry, is calling for a national subsidy of $350 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
In layman’s terms, that would reduce the cost of a small 5kWh battery to about $3,000, or $7,000 for a larger 10kWh battery.
Mr Grimes says battery storage systems would allow households to avoid higher prices when cheaper solar energy is unavailable.
“What solar batteries do is, they time-shift energy from the middle of the day, when it’s super-cheap, to make that super-cheap energy available at night-time, when prices spike,” Mr Grimes says.
Modelling by the Smart Energy Council shows that if Australia reaches 1 million solar batteries by 2030, households will save more than $19 billion.
“There’s a saving not just for the householder, but for the whole community. That’s because we’re taking pressure off when electricity prices are high.
“The more solar batteries we can install, the more money we save, the more we save individuals and the more we help the environment.”
Other renewable energy industry groups, including the Clean Energy Council, are calling for a national rebate for batteries of up to $6,500.
Former RBA deputy backs battery subsidy calls
Last year, the centrepiece of the federal budget was the $3.5 billion in energy bill relief for households, which amounted to a $300 rebate for households and $325 for small businesses.
Those rebates not only reduced household power bills but worked to bring down inflation.
Former RBA deputy governor Guy Debelle argues there is a better way to shield households from energy price inflation, which is subject to global shocks such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The former central banker, who also spent a period at Fortescue Future Industries, says instead of bill rebates, money should be spent on subsidies for batteries and increased incentives for bringing down the cost of solar.
“The relief to household budgets is only temporary, while they’re receiving those cash payments.
“You could repurpose that money to provide them with the opportunity to get rooftop solar and batteries to provide much more long-lasting insulation from energy prices.”
Mr Debelle says those incentives should also target low-income households, strata buildings and landlords.
“Sun isn’t subject to geopolitics, so it’s not going to be affected by Russia invading Ukraine,” he says.
Kevin Wen is glad he’ll be less reliant on the grid and therefore less exposed to price spikes.
Mr Wen was able to get $2,000 off the cost of his home battery storage system under the NSW government scheme, but says higher subsidies would encourage more people to take up solar and batteries.
“If they want to promote green energy, it is really good to increase the subsidies right now … If they can increase it, that will be great for everyone.”
Energy experts spoken to for this story say increased subsidies, not loans, will be the best way to increase the uptake of solar batteries.
A spokesperson for the federal minister for climate change and energy Chris Bowen said in a statement:
“The government is always looking for ways to ease household budget pressure.
“Through our Household Energy Upgrades Fund, we’re providing $1 billion to help Australian home owners lower their energy bills through discounted green loans for energy upgrades, such as solar panels and batteries.”
Natural gas remains by far the largest source of electricity in the country, according to research from clean-energy think tank Ember
Wind and solar energy generated more electricity in the U.S. than coal for the first time last year, according to analysis from clean-energy think tank Ember. The two renewable energy sources accounted for 17% of the country’s power mix while coal fell to a low of 15%, it said.
Solar was the fastest-growing energy source, according to Ember’s analysis of data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, increasing 27% from the year before, while wind rose 7%.
“We’re in a new paradigm,” said Dave Jones, chief analyst at Ember. “Solar did more to meet the rising demand for electricity last year than natural gas. And that’s at odds with the current narrative and expectations going forward, where so much of the discussion has switched towards building more gas plants.”
Ember used terawatt hours of electricity supply data from the EIA to reach its conclusions, including generation from distributed and small-scale solar installations such as those installed on rooftops and commercial and industrial systems.
Natural gas generation increased 3.3% in 2024, according to Ember, and remains by far the largest source of electricity in the U.S., accounting for 43% of the mix.
The analysis comes as the Trump administration is preparing for an upsurge in natural gas production and exports. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told an energy conference in Houston this week that he is pushing for new gas pipelines in places like Alaska and New England, and approving permits to ship natural gas overseas.
“Drill, baby, drill also requires build, baby, build,” he said.
Overall, the U.S. installed 50 gigawatts of new solar capacity in 2024, according to a report this week from the Solar Energy Industries Association, a nonprofit trade group, and consulting firm Wood Mackenzie. This marked a record in new power generation added to the grid in any energy technology in more than two decades.
Solar and storage account for 84% of all new electricity-generating capacity added to the grid last year, the SEIA report said.
Wind and solar have overtaken coal in 24 states, according to Ember, with Illinois the latest to join the ranks in 2024, following Arizona, Colorado, Florida and Maryland in 2023.
California and Nevada both surpassed 30% annual share of solar in their electricity mix for the first time last year (32% and 30%, respectively). California’s battery growth was key to its solar success. It installed 20% more battery capacity than it did solar capacity, which helped it transfer a significant share of its daytime solar to the evening.
Texas installed more solar and battery capacity than even California. Yet the growth of solar was uneven—28 states generated less than 5% of their electricity from solar in 2024, highlighting significant untapped potential—even before adding battery storage.
“It shows that renewables can meet that rise in electricity demand, that solar is able and wind is if it is given the chance,” Jones said. “The fall in battery costs is a gamechanger for how much solar the U.S. electricity grid could integrate in the near future.”
Looking ahead, the global offshore wind industry is poised for a rebound in 2025, with capacity additions expected to reach 19 gigawatts and sector-wide expenditure projected to hit $80 billion, according to research from Rystad Energy. This recovery follows a slowdown at the end of last year, when new installations dropped to approximately 8 GW—2 GW lower than the prior year. A record wave of lease auctions is driving the resurgence, with the world’s largest offshore wind market, mainland China, accounting for 65% of new capacity, Rystad said.
BEIJING, Feb 27 (Reuters) – China’s rapid solar expansion is expected to slow this year for the first time since 2019, as the industry’s growth moderates, according to an industry association forecast on Thursday.
New solar capacity added in 2025 is expected to range from 215 gigawatts (GW) in a conservative scenario to 255 GW in a more optimistic outlook, said Wang Bohua, honorary chairman of the China Photovoltaic Industry Association.
That would be an 8% to 23% drop from record 277.57 GW installations seen last year.
Wang attributed the expected slowdown to 2024’s high base and the introduction of a new power pricing mechanism in June, which will require new renewable plants to sell power on a market basis. This shift is expected to “complicate” future revenue forecasts and increase uncertainty for investors.
Local governments still need to clarify how they plan to implement the new policy – meaning there will be a wait-and-see period, he said.
Still, rising power consumption driven by electric vehicles, data centers, 5G networks and other emerging industries would continue to support demand for solar, according to Wang.
Having given the green light to two investors to develop renewable energy plants under its 100-Megawatt project, the Generation Procurement Entity, GPE, indicated that it is preparing a new project round for the tender of another 168MW.
Under its current project, Wigton Energy Limited, one of two successful bidders for the supply of new renewable energy capacity, will proceed with the development of a 49.83MW solar plant.
The facility, to be built in Clarendon, is expected to supply 102,508.28MWh of power, annually.
The other bidder selected by the GPE, under its 100MW project, was SunTerra Energy Jamaica Limited, which will install 50MW of renewable solar power in Trelawny. That company is to build a plant that has annual average guaranteed energy of 117,889.30MWh.
Both companies will develop, own, and operate the respective plants, GPE said in its report on the bids. They were previously shortlisted from among about a dozen candidates.
The energy they produce will be supplied to the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited, JPS, under power-purchase agreements, the GPE report said.
The state body also announced that another tender for 168MW of renewable energy would be launched in the current financial year, that is, by the end of March 2025.
SunTerra, which is owned and headed by a former CEO of the JPS, Emanuel DaRosa, has previously indicated that it plans to invest US$60 million in the development of its solar plant, financed by a mix of debt and equity. The nascent firm, operational since 2022, has been installing solar energy solutions across the Caribbean.
Wigton Energy Limited operates Jamaica’s largest wind energy generating facility, a 62.7MW wind farm complex located in Rose Hill, Manchester. The wind farm currently comprises three plants. When the new Clarendon solar facility is completed, production capacity at Wigton Energy should stand at nearly 113MW. The company said in a statement that it would cement Wigton Energy’s position as the leading renewable energy provider in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean.
The Wigton and Sunterra plants will compete in capacity with the current holder of the title of largest solar farm, Paradise Park, a 51MW facility that operates from Westmoreland.
Wigton Energy CEO Gary Barrow, who is also a former JPS executive, was not immediately available for additional comment. There is yet no indication of how Wigton will finance the build-out of the new facility or what the projected is expected to cost.
A surge in Chinese car brands is transforming Jamaica’s automotive market. While Japanese, European, and American manufacturers have long dominated the market, and still dominate, the emergence of brands such as BYD, GWM (Haval), BAIC, Jetour, MG, and Chang’an is reshaping consumer preferences. Chinese brands are disrupting the market with competitive pricing, cutting edge technology, and features that rival or surpass those of established brands. The growth of Chinese vehicles in Jamaica reflects a global trend, with China increasingly dominating the automotive industry. This report delves into the factors driving this shift and examines how Chinese automakers are making inroads into a market once sceptical of their quality and reliability.
Bella Castle International Ltd, a Dominican Republic-based automobile distributor that sells Honda and Changan cars in its home country, opened its newest showroom in Kingston on December 4, 2024 to sell Changan, a Chinese car marque. Changan is the sixth Chinese car brand to enter the Jamaican market, traditionally dominated by Japanese and European marques, and more recently, Korean marques. However, in recent years, Chinese cars, once met with scepticism over quality, are increasingly appearing on Jamaican roads.
“I think that the acceptance of Chinese cars comes from the open-mindedness of new customers, younger clients that are less traditional about only Japanese or Korean car brands,” Praxedes Castillo Bellapart, general manager of Bella Castle Group, said in a December interview with the Jamaica Observer. He has witnessed younger generations choose Chinese brands after realising they offer technology and innovation.
“Everyone aspires to have a premium vehicle, and [they] get to have it at a very good price with a Chinese brand,” Bellapart said. “So, that’s what we’re doing here. We’re giving luxury at an economic price to all the Jamaican people.”
Andrew Jackson, CEO of Jetcon Corporation, the distributor of BAIC cars since 2023, faced scepticism initially. However, he has seen people adjust their behaviour towards the cars.
“If you compare the cars now with, say, the Chery QQ from 10 years ago, the fit and finish of these cars are far superior,” Jackson said. “In many cases, the styling of these cars is ahead of the Japanese and Korean cars — the modern type of styling. So the Chinese have really jumped ahead of the game — specially when it comes to styling. They are up there when it comes to quality,” Jackson pointed out.
BAIC is produced by Chinese State-owned automobile manufacturer Beijing Automotive Group Co, Ltd. Its acronym relates to its predecessor, Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation.
Chinese car brands have made significant inroads in Jamaica over the past three years. While Chinese truck brands such as Shacman, Sinotuk and Foton, had a presence, it wasn’t until 2021 that Chinese car brands started gaining traction. That’s when Stewart’s Automotive Group introduced Great Wall Motors’ Haval marque.
Titanya Clarke, brand sales manager for GWM Haval at Stewart’s Auto Group, said the marque was introduced in 2021 and sales began in 2022, ahead of its official May 2023 launch.
Clarke said the brand has been well-received by the market. Corporations have also bought its pickup truck line as part of their fleet vehicles.
“One of the things that we used as a strategy is to actually have people experience the vehicles. When you experience a Haval, and how it drives, and what we are offering, you understand why we go by the saying, ‘This is affordable luxury,’ “ she said.
Still, it was pointed out that while Jamaican consumers are warming to Chinese car brands, it is not an easy sell all the time.
Courtney Smith, sales manager for BYD Kingston, is still learning about customers who traditionally bought Japanese and Korean brands like Hondas or Kias. These customers react differently when introduced to a Chinese car brand, Smith said.
Smith, who previously sold Hondas for ATL Automotive Group, noted the difference.
“As a person who used to sell Honda, when a person walks in, nine out of 10 times they know what they want,” he said. “The brand is a household name [so] they’re more picking their colour and looking at specs.”
In contrast, newer brands require more effort to sell.
Yet, Jamaica’s automotive history suggests Chinese car brands are here to stay, with the recent shift being the latest chapter in this evolution. Although the first automobile was independently introduced to Jamaica in 1903, it was the 1960s that marked a pivotal period for the industry, with the country relying on trading partnerships with England and the United States to import popular vehicles.
Family cars like the Morris Oxford and Austin Cambridge, which doubled as taxis, dominated the market. Characterised by rectangular designs, these vehicles contrasted with sleek 1960s sports cars like the Jaguar E-Type. While SUVs were non-existent, station wagons and Land Rovers provided motorists with extra space and four-wheel drive capabilities.
The 1980s saw the introduction of Russian-made Ladas, which coincided with import restrictions. The easing of these restrictions in the 1990s paved the way for a lasting influx of Japanese vehicles, which continues to shape the country’s automotive market today.
However, that dominance is now being challenged by the Chinese car brands across the globe.
In 2008 that country’s automotive industry took the top spot in production, with its factories churning out millions of vehicles annually. As of 2024 it also ranks as the world’s largest automobile market, topping global sales and ownership charts. However, Chinese car makers are facing increasing headwinds from tariffs, particularly from the US and EU, which could potentially disrupt their export-driven growth. The US, for instance, in May 2024 quadrupled tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles from 25 per cent to 100 per cent, while the EU imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles of up to 45.3 per cent in late October 2024.
Chinese automakers have, in response, pivoted in those markets, deciding to export its hybrid cars to Europe for example, to get around the tariffs on full electric models, and have also gone aggressively after new markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
“Because the Chinese are having problems to go into North America and Europe, they are pushing even harder to go into other countries. At the end of the day they are still competing with the BMWs and the Toyotas and so on — but maybe not in the primary market but in the Latin America, and the Caribbean, and India, and Africa and so on [instead],” Jackson said, adding that he expects the Chinese brands to eventually find their way into North America and Europe.
From January through October, Chinese companies sold 9.75 million fully electric and hybrid vehicles — an increase of 34 per cent from a year earlier, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. About one million of those vehicles were exported outside China.
BYD is well positioned as the leader, with a market share of around 35 per cent. In China, its biggest market, BYD sold 2.9 million fully electric and hybrid vehicles in the first 10 months of 2024 — an increase of 35 per cent from a year earlier, according to China Passenger Car Association. Globally, BYD has broken into the top 10 of total vehicles sold, and looks poised to pass Ford Motor and Honda soon.
The company has aggressively expanded overseas. It has built assembly lines in Brazil, Hungary, Thailand and Uzbekistan. It is also looking to put a factory in Mexico, a market where it expects sales to double next year.
Here in Jamaica it is classified as a premium brand and is thus not targeted at the mass market as are value brands such as Honda and Kia, though the prices are comparable, with the technology, most times, in these Chinese brands being superior — a far cry from the days when Chinese-made products were snubbed for being poor quality knock-offs of more popular western brands.
“From what I have seen the legacy brands — Toyotas, Hondas, Fords — they have taken a backseat in giving the public what they want and you have to wait long for changes,” Smith said.
He pointed out that Chinese automakers disrupt Jamaica’s car market by rapidly advancing technology, offering more features at lower prices, and outpacing legacy brands like Toyota and Honda in innovation cycles. Chinese brands like BYD and Haval provide advanced features — such as adaptive cruise control, 360-degree cameras, and cooling seats — as standard, making them more competitive. Unlike traditional automakers that update models every five years, Chinese manufacturers release frequent updates, enhancing technology and efficiency. For instance, BYD’s hybrid cars now achieve ranges of 1,100 km, with newer models already promising 2,000 km. This aggressive strategy challenges competitors like Tesla on pricing and innovation, reshaping consumer expectations across the world and in Jamaica.
Are you ready to accelerate your return on investment in solar energy? The Government of Jamaica has introduced an exciting tax incentive for homeowners, and at SolarBuzz, we’re here to guide you through every step. More than just a regular installer, we pride ourselves on being your trusted expert partner in all things solar.
What’s New?
As of January 1, 2023, individuals who install a solar photovoltaic (PV) system in their primary residence can qualify for a 30% income tax credit, up to a maximum system cost of J$4 million. In other words, you can claim up to J$1.2 million as a tax credit on the purchase and installation costs.
Key Criteria for Eligibility
The solar PV system must be installed on or after January 1, 2023 at your primary residence.
Sales invoice and property title must be in your name.
A Government Electrical Regulator (GER) Inspector Compliance Certificate is required.
Income Tax Returns must be filed electronically:
Self-employed: Submit Form S04
Employed (PAYE): Submit Form IT05
The Tax Computation section has been updated to include the Residential Solar PV System credit. When completing your relevant tax form, look for the new Schedule 9 hyperlink for the new residential solar tax credit computation in the following section:
You can only apply this credit to 50% of your annual income tax due.
The home where the system is installed cannot be used for any income-generating activities.
Upgrades are only eligible on systems installed after January 1, 2023
Employed individuals get a cash refund; self-employed individuals receive a tax credit to offset their liability.
Pensioners/retirees are eligible for tax credit on systems installed during retirement only if their pensionable income exceeds the tax threshold for the year being claimed and all other pensionable allowances (total of 2.2M approximately annually).
Watch the Full Webinar
If you’d like a deep dive into the new tax credit, check out the Tax Administration Jamaica webinar here: YouTube Webinar: Solar Tax Credit
(Tax Computation skip to: 2:01:01 to 2:07:53 in video below)
Next Steps
Current SolarBuzz Clients: Contact us for free guidance, and we will ensure your installation can be passed quickly by the GER.
Non-SolarBuzz Clients: We can still help, but there will be an admin fee for our tax guidance, and no guarantee the GER will pass a system we did not install.
We look forward to helping you save on energy costs and unlock new financial benefits in the process!
This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Please consult with a tax professional for personalised guidance.
Another inclement weather event, another testament to the utility of virtual power plants!
Sunnova Energy International announced today that it powered more than 54,500 customers in Puerto Rico during and after Tropical Storm Ernesto from August 13 to August 19. During the storm, local utility grids were unable to deliver power to approximately half of the residents on the island; in that seven day span, Sunnova solar + storage customers generated 8.05 GWh of energy.
“Keeping the lights on for over 54,500 Puerto Rican customers who lost grid power this month shows the tremendous value of our solar + storage systems,” said William J. (John) Berger, president and chief executive officer at Sunnova. “Nearly half of the Island was without power after the most recent storm, and at such critical and vulnerable times like this, we had the capability to deliver when the local utilities could not. By powering all of these customers in Puerto Rico, we are demonstrating the true power of solar + storage to protect our customers and their communities, and to live life uninterrupted. Our systems protect homeowners and provide peace of mind with clean, resilient power that comes backed by the best service in the industry.”
Sunnova reports about 98.5% of its SunSafe systems in Puerto Rico were undamaged by Ernesto. Sunnova says it sent technician crews out to repair those that did take a hit, performing repairs just hours after the storm struck.
“Once more, the durability and dependability of Sunnova’s solar + storage systems were battle-tested by another major storm and proved to be an excellent source of reliable electricity,” said Paul Mathews, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Sunnova. “It is unfortunate that so many of our customers have dealt with severe weather this summer, but it’s clear that going through storms with Sunnova service provides customers increased resiliency and reliable off-grid power. We are here for the long haul and as demonstrated with our rapid response, our customers can count on us when it matters most. I couldn’t be more proud of our Service teams and their response in Puerto Rico.”
Sunnova is getting used to making positive headlines in the wake of natural disasters. The company’s solar and storage solutions powered more than 5,500 customers across a four-state region during and after Hurricane Debby from August 5 to August 12. Last month, Sunnova reported similar success after it powered the homes of nearly 3,000 customers in the Houston area during and after Hurricane Beryl, which knocked out power to nearly three million utility customers. When Hurricane Fiona struck Puerto Rico in September 2022, Sunnova said its SunSafe solar + storage systems generated nearly 2 GWh of energy in the first two weeks after the storm. Systems provided a combined 3.4 million hours of backup power for solar + storage customers, with an average of 128 hours of power generated per household.
Sunnova is also collaborating with Tenet Energy to accelerate the adoption of solar energy and electric vehicles, offering exclusive promotions encouraging Sunnova customers to purchase an EV with Tenet’s financing options and Tenet customers to adopt Sunnova’s solar energy systems. By using solar panels to charge electric vehicles, homeowners can achieve significant cost savings that amount to potentially hundreds of dollars annually on their electric bills.
Finance Miniter Dr Nigel Clarke has declared that Jamaica is now creating the infrastructure to enable green financing to take off, whilst endorsing the Jamaica Stock Exchange’s (JSE) comprehensive guidelines aiming to attract J$6 billion in investments in green, blue and sustainability bonds.
Driving an electric vehicle is relatively simple; however, charging an EV can get complicated.
Car shoppers buying or leasing an electric car will want to take into consideration what sort of charging infrastructure they have at home or nearby that can support their new vehicle’s recharging needs. Unlike gas-powered vehicles, which in some locales are seemingly supported gas stations at just about every corner, battery-powered cars and trucks charging options are fewer, and often further, between. Though the process of going all in on an EV involves more planning and forethought, it shouldn’t dissuade you from considering such a vehicle.
To start, one of the best decisions you can make before purchasing an EV is to have a charger installed where you live. That’s certainly easier if you own your home, but there are plenty of hoops to jump through to make it happen (permits, contractors, fees). To simplify the process, some automakers incentivize this process, as do a number of state and local governments. If you happen to rent the place you call home, then it never hurts to ask your landlord about the possibility of installing an electric car charger.
EV Charging Levels and Charging at Home
There are three main classifications of EV charging: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 (also known as DC fast charging). The one you’ll want to use often depends on how far you’re going and how much time you have for recharging.
If you charge at home, it’s easy to plug in at the end of each day and recharge overnight. The same is largely true during the day if you’re able to charge at work. Longer voyages require a different approach because you won’t want to waste hours for a suitable recharge to get back on the road.
Level 1 charge equipment is typically provided with all new EVs. This type plugs into an ordinary 120V household outlet, making this the most convenient but also the slowest way to charge an electric car. Level 1 chargers add roughly two to four miles of range per hour, with the lower end of that range corresponding to larger, less efficient EVs. This means Level 1 charging can take days, not hours, to fully replenish a depleted battery pack. But charging from empty is far from the norm, so Level 1 can work out just fine if you drive no more than 20 miles or so per day and can plug in every night.
You do need to consider a couple of points. First, you should consult an electrician to see if the socket you plan to use is up to it, especially if your home isn’t relatively new. Also, you should never plug your car’s Level 1 charge cord in via an extension cord, because the extra wire length adds resistance that can overheat your home wiring. Also, if you’re unable to plug in regularly, or want to be able to add spontaneous side trips during the day or on weekends, you may find that this setup charges at a rate that’s too slow for your liking.
To satiate your need for charging speed, you’re going to want to look into stepping up to Level 2 home charging, which can support up to 240 volts at triple (and in some cases quadruple) the amperage of Level 1. That makes most Level 2 setups six to eight times faster than Level 1, which equates to between 12 and 32 miles of range added per hour of charging, with the more efficient EVs toward the higher end of that range. With Level 2, you can add a significant amount of range to most EVs in a couple of hours, and it makes full overnight top-ups a breeze even if you happened to drive more miles than usual, skipped charging for a couple of days, or programmed your car to delay charging until the wee hours when electricity rates can plummet.
Level 2 is fairly attainable, especially if you are a homeowner. Some of the supplied cords that come with EVs have swappable ends that feature 240V plugs, but if the cord that comes with the EV you’re considering doesn’t have such a feature, you can purchase standalone Level 2 home charge equipment. Either way, you’ll need a 220–240V outlet that’s connected to a dedicated circuit breaker. A consultation with an electrician is necessary to add such a circuit and make sure your panel is up to it. There are a few notable plug options, but the best and most common is called a NEMA 14-50. This is the same outlet RV parks provide for Class A motorhomes, so you might be in a plug-and-play situation if you’ve already had your garage wired up to support such an RV.
But Level 2 isn’t just found at home. It’s the predominant type found in public spaces, workplaces, and certain shopping malls. Also, the cord-end that you plug into the car looks the same as home Level 1 and Level 2 equipment. You can add a significant chunk of range if you plug in while you’re having dinner-and-a-movie with a friend or significant other, but they are not intended for a full fill from near-empty, mainly because they’re generally not located where people spend many hours in one place.
Fast-Charging
Level 3 chargers are also known as DC fast chargers, and as the name suggests, this equipment can much more rapidly charge your electric car’s battery. Fast charging is particularly helpful on long trips that require intermediate charges to reach a destination because most compatible EVs can take on 100–250 miles or more of range in significantly less than an hour. Level 3 chargers differ from Level 2 charge equipment in that they utilize a different socket on the vehicle side, with extra pins intended to handle additional higher voltage.
There are three types. Tesla Superchargers have long utilized their own proprietary socket known as the North American Charging Standard (NACS) This made the extensive Supercharger network a Tesla-only recharging option for a long time. This has recently changed, and a number of other automakers currently do, or plan to, offer access to these chargers.
Until this seismic shift in recharging hardware, the vast majority of EVs outside of Tesla used the SAE Combo (also known as CCS or simply Combo) chargers. These are based on the same socket used by the Level 2 plug, but with an extra pair of large pins grafted on below. CCS-enabled cars typically have a secondary flap the user folds down to expose the socket for these extra pins.
Finally, there’s CHAdeMO, the BetaMax of the trio. This socket is mainly found on a few Mitsubishis and the Nissan Leaf, though Nissan’s future products will use the CCS interface going forward.
The rate of charge is measured in kilowatts (kW), which currently range from a low of 50 kW to a high of 350 kW depending on the specific charger. The fast-charge capability of the car itself matters, too. A car that has a maximum DC Fast charge rate of 50 kW will gain nothing by plugging into a 350 kW station, and will instead take up a spot that a car with faster-charging capability could use.
EV owners will see a noticeable dip in the charge rate once their car’s battery reaches approximately 80 percent capacity. In practical terms, an 80 or 90 percent charge is more than enough to get you down the road to the next stop. But this is also done to prevent damaging the battery pack by way of overcharging or overheating it. Think of it like pouring water into a glass. You can dump in a lot at first, but you generally slow the flow as the glass approaches full and dribble it in near the end, otherwise, you run the risk the water may overflow.
Fast-Charging Networks
Tesla’s Supercharger network is made up of Level 3 chargers, which the company strategically places around the country. The sheer number of Supercharger locations is high because the network has been built out over some 10 years. This and the fact that its chargers are reliably in working order make Tesla’s electric car charging infrastructure one of the best currently available.
For everyone else (including Tesla drivers), there are several charge networks available to the public, such as ChargePoint, Electrify America, EVGo, and others. These networks are generally newer and less extensive, so we recommend joining as many as you can in order to increase your odds of finding an available and functioning station on your travels. It’s also a good idea to download each network’s app on your phone, have an active account, and keep a physical charge card with you.
Some automakers are also beginning to implement plug and charge, which is a way of accessing multiple networks for charging your electric car. The Mercedes EQS battery-electric sedan, for instance, can consolidate several networks under a single user account. It also includes a plug-and-charge function when using participating chargers. This allows you to simply plug your EQS in without having to interact with the charger’s app or physical charge card.
Charging on the go is further simplified by way of many electric cars’ in-dash navigation systems, which will typically suggest charging locations to stop at along your route should your EV need a charge in order to reach the final destination. That said, we recommend picking several alternate charging stations in case your range depletes quicker than expected or in the event a chosen charging station’s charger is already in use or out of order.
The Cost of Charging an Electric Car
Though the price of electricity varies by location, charging an electric car at home ought to cost notably less than filling your gas-powered car’s tank with an equivalent amount of gas. In some areas, your electricity provider may incentivize charging by lowering rates during off-peak hours. Generally, these lower rates take effect late in the evening and last through the early morning. Many electric cars allow you to schedule your daily at-home charging times, which ought to ensure your EV is charging during these off-peak hours. Prepare to spend a good deal more money on charging if you regularly rely on charging networks to recharge your electric car.
Those charging at home may want to invest in solar panels that feed a series of batteries called an energy storage system, an example of which is Tesla’s Powerwall. These systems collect energy from the sun during the day and store it for later uses, such as charging an electric car. In some areas, any excess power collected can be sold back to the local utility company. Be warned, energy storage systems can currently be prohibitively expensive.
EV Charging Etiquette
If you are a recent electric car convert, then you ought to be aware of a few of the simple etiquette guidelines that come with EV ownership. For instance, when using a charger in a public parking area, it’s best to keep tabs on your electric car’s state of charge. Once its battery is at full capacity, it’s common courtesy to move your car—even if that means hoofing it back to the charging station well before you’re ready to leave the area—so other drivers can charge their EVs. In fact, some charging networks will penalize you for keeping your car plugged into the charger after its battery reaches full capacity.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to make sure your electric car is correctly plugged in and actively charging before walking away. Faults sometimes occur within a minute or two of plugging in.
Once your EV’s done charging, place the charger handle back on the receptacle and neatly coil the cable. These components take a beating in everyday use and keeping them in good working order will pay dividends for you and other EV drivers alike. These cables are also a tripping hazard, so keeping them off the ground is always a smart idea. If you encounter a faulty charger, then your best bet is to notify the network of this issue so it can be fixed.
Charging an electric car may seem complex, but with the exception of the additional time it takes to get your car to its full energy capacity, it’s generally no harder than fueling up a gas- or diesel-powered vehicle. Even better, those with an at-home charger will find charging their electric car is just as easy as charging any mobile device. Just plug it in overnight, and wake up with it ready to go.
