Solar Energy Archives - Page 2 of 24

Oil prices rise as concerns grow over ‘fragile’ US-Iran ceasefire

April 9, 2026 jrobinson

Global oil prices have risen as concerns grow over whether a fragile US-Iran ceasefire will hold after Israel launched a wave of strikes on Lebanon.

The attacks led Tehran to warn of a “regret‑inducing response” if they continue, while US President Donald Trump has said the country’s forces will remain in the region until Iran complies with the “real” ceasefire agreement.

Oil prices had plunged on Wednesday after an agreement to pause the conflict was announced, which included the reopening of the key Strait of Hormuz waterway.

But reports that Iran said the crucial shipping route will stay closed because of the Israeli strikes has renewed fears of a lengthy disruption to energy supplies.

Global benchmark Brent crude rose 2% to $96.53 a barrel, while US-traded West Texas Intermediate was 2.8% higher at $97.02 as pressure mounted on what Vice President JD Vance described as a “fragile truce”.

Stock markets also reversed some of the major gains they made on Wednesday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index closed down 0.5%, while in Europe the UK’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.4%, Germany’s Dax index was 1.3% lower and France’s Cac was down 0.8%.

“I think there’s a little bit of nervousness in global markets,” Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, told the BBC’s Today programme.

“Markets are giving back some gains… and I think that reflects a lot of uncertainty over whether the Strait of Hormuz is actually open.”

Sim Moh Siong, strategist at Singapore bank OCBC, said the flow of energy shipments through the strait will be the focus in the days ahead while uncertainty remains over how Tehran plans to oversee the movement of vessels.

One of the conditions of the ceasefire agreement was that ships would be able to safely use the Strait of Hormuz.

However, vessels in the Gulf have received a warning from Iran’s navy that any vessels seeking to cross the Strait of Hormuz without permission “will be targeted and destroyed”, the shipping brokerage firm SSY has confirmed to BBC Verify.

Only a handful of ships have crossed the waterway since the deal was announced – well below the rate of some 130 vessels that transited daily before the war.

It will take a minimum of 10 days to clear the existing backlog of vessels, even if the strait resumes its usual volume of shipping, according to maritime tracking firm Pole Star Global.

In recent weeks, some countries, including Malaysia, India and the Philippines – have negotiated safe passage for its ships.

“It is very difficult to plan because every day you get very different news,” said Nils Haupt from container shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd, which still has six ships in the Persian Gulf.

“Yesterday [Wednesday] was a typical day. You get the news, ‘it will now be open and something is happening now’, and then in the evening it is not happening,” he told the Today programme.

Haupt said they were still waiting for official information on whether there will be fees to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, but warned that if there were it could have a major impact.

“If this means that for the coming years there will be a fee for the Strait of Hormuz of millions which is double, triple the price of crossing the Panama Canal or the Suez Canal it would be quite ridiculous for the entire industry.”

There is disagreement over whether Lebanon is included in the ceasefire.

On Wednesday, Israel launched its heaviest bombardment of the country in this conflict, killing at least 182 people.

Hezbollah said in a statement posted on social media that it had fired rockets at northern Israel. The Iran-backed militia says it was in response to ceasefire violations.

BBC

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Clearing the Path for Residential Solar in Jamaica

March 28, 2026 jrobinson

From the CEO’s Desk

A Shift in the Rationale for Solar

For many Jamaican households, the decision to invest in solar energy has moved well beyond environmental considerations, and is now increasingly a matter of financial prudence, resilience, and long-term stability.

Electricity costs remain among the most volatile components of household expenditure, while inflationary pressures and climate-related disruptions continue to underscore the importance of energy independence. For many families, electricity is now one of the largest and least predictable monthly expenses.

Against this backdrop, solar energy has become an increasingly rational investment for households looking to stabilise energy costs while strengthening their resilience in an uncertain environment.

The Government’s introduction of the Residential Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Tax Credit (RPSTC) in 2024 was therefore a welcome and important step. The incentive has the potential to accelerate distributed solar adoption and allow thousands of households to transform their homes into efficient, resilient, and economically productive assets. But as with many well-intentioned policies, the practical details of implementation matter.

Where Implementation Meets Opportunity

We appreciate Minister Vaz’s continued openness to engagement on policies that support Jamaica’s transition to renewable energy, including the temporary administrative waiver previously granted to facilitate residential solar adoption.

In recent weeks we have written to the Minister to respectfully request a review of the mandatory Net Billing Licence requirement currently associated with the tax credit application process.

Under the present framework, many homeowners applying for the solar tax credit must first obtain this licence even when their systems are designed primarily for self-consumption rather than exporting electricity to the grid.

At first glance, the requirement may appear administrative. In practice, however, it introduces costs and delays that risk weakening the incentive’s effectiveness.

The licensing process can take many months to complete, while the standard Government Electrical Regulatory (GER) Compliance Certificate – which confirms that a solar system has been safely installed and meets the required electrical standards – can typically be obtained within a matter of days. When this delay is compounded by the processing timelines associated with the portal for claiming the tax credit itself, many homeowners may wait a year or longer before realising the benefit of an incentive designed to accelerate solar adoption.

The licensing process also introduces additional costs, compounding the upfront investment households are already making. These costs can be particularly difficult to absorb for middle-income families, precisely the demographic the incentive is best positioned to serve. For households where affordability is a genuine consideration, every friction point in the process matters.

For households considering a substantial investment in solar, both time and cost are crucial. A delayed and more expensive incentive weakens the economics of the investment and extends the system’s payback period.

What the Grid Never Sees

More fundamentally, the requirement risks applying an export-based regulatory framework to systems that are not designed to export electricity at all.

Most modern residential solar installations in Jamaica are configured primarily for self-consumption with battery storage. During the day, households draw electricity directly from their solar panels while simultaneously charging their battery systems. In the evenings and overnight, homes typically rely on that stored energy rather than the grid.

In this configuration, the utility grid functions largely as a backup supply, used mainly during periods of extended cloud cover or unusually high household demand. As a result, these systems are designed to minimise reliance on grid electricity, not to generate significant surplus energy for export.

In practical terms, this means that many battery-based residential systems are structurally unlikely to produce meaningful excess electricity beyond the household’s own consumption needs. Applying a licensing framework designed for electricity exporters to these self-consumption systems therefore introduces regulatory complexity without addressing a genuine operational need.

A more proportionate approach would clearly distinguish between:

Systems designed to export electricity to the grid, for which a net billing licence is appropriate and necessary; and
Systems designed primarily for household self-consumption, for which a streamlined pathway – anchored in the GER Compliance Certificate – would be both sufficient and more administratively efficient.

Such clarity would not only simplify the process for homeowners, but would also strengthen confidence in the policy framework governing residential solar. We have respectfully advocated for precisely this distinction in our engagement with the Ministry, and we remain encouraged by the constructive dialogue to date.

When Policy and Finance Align

When incentives operate efficiently, solar investments produce faster returns. Shorter payback periods improve household cash-flow profiles and strengthen borrowers’ ability to service solar financing.

In practical terms, well-aligned policy can materially de-risk solar lending by improving borrower capacity and stabilising household energy expenses. For financial institutions evaluating solar loans, predictable cash flows and shorter payback timelines are not abstract benefits as they directly improve the credit profile of borrowers and help unlock broader access to financing for clean energy technologies.

The Bank of Jamaica’s caution that credit conditions may tighten further lends urgency to the need for a seamless and accessible incentive process for households seeking to finance solar adoption.

Administrative efficiency within incentive programs such as the RPSTC is not simply a regulatory matter. It directly influences the pace at which households are able to adopt solar, strengthen their long-term energy resilience, and confidently manage the financial commitment involved.

A Narrowing Window in Global Solar Pricing

Global solar pricing may soon face upward pressure following the scheduled removal of export tax rebates on photovoltaic products such as batteries, panels and inverters by the Chinese government.

Given Jamaica’s reliance on imported solar equipment, these shifts are expected to gradually translate into higher landed costs for distributors and homeowners, tighter inventory allocation and possibly shorter quotation validity periods. In practical terms, this means the window for securing systems at today’s pricing may narrow over the coming months.

Ensuring that the solar tax incentive operates smoothly and efficiently is therefore not merely beneficial but also time-sensitive. A streamlined process would allow more households to adopt solar while equipment pricing remains relatively favourable, helping them lock in lower energy costs for years to come.

Beyond Installation

At Solar Buzz, our advocacy on this issue is guided by a simple principle: when our clients and subscribers are willing to invest their own capital in strengthening their household’s energy resilience and in doing so, contribute to the country’s broader energy future, public policy should facilitate that decision rather than inadvertently complicate it.

The transition toward distributed renewable energy will not be driven by government policy alone. It will depend on the cumulative decisions of thousands of households choosing to invest in solar technologies. Ensuring that the incentive framework reflects the practical realities of that investment will help accelerate that transition for everyone.

The Path Forward

We remain committed to constructive engagement between policymakers, regulators and industry as Jamaica’s renewable energy framework continues to evolve toward outcomes that are economically sound, administratively efficient and supportive of homeowners.

At Solar Buzz, we will continue to advocate for our clients and for the homeowners helping to build Jamaica’s more resilient energy future.

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Octopus boss: We’ve seen a 50% rise in solar panel sales since start of Iran war

March 28, 2026 jrobinson

The UK’s biggest energy firm has seen a 50% rise in solar panel sales after the US-Israel war with Iran pushed oil and gas prices up, its boss told the BBC.

Greg Jackson, head of Octopus Energy, described a “huge jolt” in sales of solar panels and heat pumps, as well as enquiries about electric vehicles and chargers, so far this month compared to February.

Jackson said households would “very likely” see higher energy bills from July when Ofgem’s price cap, which is currently shielding millions of households, is reset.

He told the BBC’s Big Boss Interview podcast that Octopus was staying optimistic about the impacts of the conflict, but planning on it being “more serious”.

Wholesale oil and gas prices have surged since the war broke out on 28 February, disrupting the production and transportation of energy across the Middle East.

Higher energy prices may lead to a rise in the cost of other goods around the world, but it often shows up first at the fuel pump.

Jackson said the UK had experienced a “much more dramatic increase in energy costs than we are likely to see here” after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

He acknowledged it “couldn’t be more confusing” for people that the price cap will lower prices for three months from April, while at the same time people are being warned the crisis will likely lead to future energy bill rises.

He said this had pushed households to think about renewable energy.

He said customers were saying “Look, we’ve just got to do something about it” with Octopus seeing a 50% rise in solar panel sales and 30% rise in heat pump sales, while enquiries about EVs were up more than a third, and chargers by about a fifth.

This is based on comparing the first three weeks of February and March, with Jackson saying orders and enquiries were normally fairly steady month on month.

He was also asked about recent comments to the BBC by Larry Fink, chief executive of the world’s biggest asset management company, BlackRock, comparing progress on energy in China to Europe where he just sees “a lot of talk and no action”.

Jackson said Europe was “torturing” itself over discussions about moving too fast or slow on green energy, and North Sea drilling.

China, however, was just “getting on with it”, he said, citing its state oil company’s aim to get rid of all petrol stations by 2040.

“They’re doing it because it gives them more and more resilience, more and more energy security against the kind of crisis we’re seeing yet again in the Middle East and in the global fossil fuel industries,” he said.

He brushed aside suggestions that more oil drilling in the North Sea would make the UK more resilient.

This would make only a “tiny difference”, he said, adding the fossil fuel industry will never have lots of spare capacity which is why prices go “through the roof” when there is a supply crunch.

He said the most important thing is to get the cost of electricity down in the UK, which would enable more people to use EVs and heat pumps.

While EVs would once have been regarded as expensive options, he said there was more parity now between petrol and electric models and an emerging second-hand market.

The divide where lower income households were priced out of affording EVs is “disappearing”, he added.

In the wide-ranging interview, Jackson also cited the role of the welfare state in supporting his “incredible single mum” who was studying while bringing him and his siblings up.

He said the benefits bill was often seen as too high, and there was a need to find ways to get people into work.

“And exactly as it happened for my mum, be a sort of an enabler to go on to great things,” he continued. “So I do think it’s really important that we have some of the social structures that let people get through tough times in order to become contributors.”

Jackson also touched on Artificial Intelligence (AI), warning the “relentless pace” in advancement could leave humans with very little that they are better at than machines.

We must be ready for an “incredible degree of change”, he said, adding: “There’s going to be a lot less if anything that’s unique about people and we’re going to have to really work hard to work out how we make that good for us.”

BBC News

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Africa’s solar boom faces higher costs as China cuts export subsidies

March 28, 2026 jrobinson

China’s decision to end value-added tax rebates on solar panel exports and phase out incentives for making battery storage equipment could push up the cost of solar installations in Africa, which relies heavily on imported Chinese technology.

The changes, expected to take effect April 1 for solar panels and beginning next year for batteries, may complicate efforts to expand renewable energy to close vast electricity gaps across Africa, though experts say the impact likely will be manageable.

“We are likely to see solar panel prices increase in Africa, because most of the inputs come from China,” said Wangari Muchiri, an energy analyst focused on Africa’s clean energy sector. “Removing the rebate will add to existing costs, especially when you consider shipping, logistics, and other import fees.”

Africa already pays significantly more for solar equipment than other regions because of transport costs, smaller import volumes and tariffs.

China’s policy change reflects broader shifts after fierce competition among Chinese manufacturers pushed solar module prices to as little as $0.07 per watt in 2025, from $0.25 in 2022. That helped drive global adoption of solar energy but left many companies with heavy losses.

Some Chinese companies built VAT rebates into their export pricing, effectively transferring those subsidies to their overseas buyers. But Beijing has cut back on those payments as it reins in overcapacity and shifts toward more advanced technologies.

Rather than a sharp price shock, the loss of such rebates will likely gradually raise prices, setting a firmer global price floor.

“The changes are significant, but not catastrophic,” said John van Zuylen, CEO of the Africa Solar Industry Association.

“The entire recent solar boom was built on artificially cheap Chinese pricing,” van Zuylen said. “That era is now ending.”

“When a structural rebate is removed, exporters typically either absorb the cost, raise prices, or reduce discounting,” van Zuylen said. “African countries will likely feel this as a gradual upward shift in pricing rather than a single dramatic spike.”

Even with modest price increases, solar is expected to remain competitive across much of the continent, since it’s the cheapest source of energy in Africa, Muchiri said.

“Even with higher panel prices, it will still be significantly cheaper than alternatives like diesel,” she said.

“It will increase project costs slightly and might delay the project construction pipeline due to supply chain shortages and contractual changes, stockpiling rush, congestion in shipment for the countries heavily reliant on Chinese imports,” said Sonia Dunlop, CEO of the Global Solar Council, an industry association.

Battery storage, critical for providing electricity after sunset, may face a bigger challenge as incentives are phased out through 2027. Higher costs may affect smaller users the most, van Zuylen said.

“Batteries matter more than panels for Africa because storage is what makes solar reliable for off-grid and backup users,” he said.

Basil Abia, co-founder of the Nigerian energy research firm Truva Intelligence, said that “batteries have historically been expensive, and many solar installations in Africa were built without them”.

“Only recently have we started seeing more systems combining solar with battery storage,” Abia said.

He said that, even without rebates, solar modules remain relatively affordable. Through 2024 and early 2025, module prices fell sharply from around $0.25 per watt in previous years to as low as $0.07 per watt.

Demand for solar, which now supplies three per cent of power generation in Africa, is expected to continue growing as storage improves reliability. Meanwhile, the heavy dependence on Chinese equipment is drawing attention to limited local manufacturing capacity.

“The VAT removal will slow, but not reverse Africa’s clean energy transition,” Abia said. “Countries that use this moment to accelerate local manufacturing will emerge stronger. Those that do not will remain exposed to Beijing’s next industrial policy adjustment.”

AP News

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Planning Solar Installation? Timing May Matter More Than You Think

March 19, 2026 jrobinson

Editor’s Note:

For homeowners and businesses considering solar installation, timing is becoming a more important part of the decision.

Recent developments in global solar supply chains may influence equipment pricing and availability over the coming months, making planning decisions today more consequential. Understanding these shifts can help inform more effective investment decisions.

Jamaica’s solar market remains closely connected to global supply chains, so developments abroad often shape local availability and cost structures.

This edition outlines what is changing – and what it may mean for solar adoption in Jamaica.

The global solar supply chain is entering a period of adjustment. China, the world’s largest producer of photovoltaic equipment, has announced changes to export tax rebates that have historically helped stabilize international solar pricing. This policy adjustment is expected to influence global supply chain dynamics and is likely to affect international solar pricing structures over time.

Under the new policy framework, export VAT rebates for photovoltaic products, including solar panels, cells, wafers, inverters, and other PV system components will be eliminated beginning April 1, 2026. Export rebates for batteries will decline from 9 percent to 6 percent in April 2026 before being fully eliminated on January 1, 2027.

As these incentives are phased out, procurement patterns, equipment availability, and ultimately the economics of solar installation in import-dependent markets such as Jamaica are likely to be affected. These rebates have historically helped offset exporters’ tax burdens, lowering international prices. Their removal raises the underlying cost structure for manufacturers unless those costs are absorbed through narrower margins.

“Removing export rebates raises the cost base for solar manufacturers unless those costs are absorbed through tighter margins.”

Storage-inclusive solar systems, which are increasingly important for backup reliability, may remain relatively stable through much of 2026 but still warrant proactive planning ahead of the more significant pricing adjustment expected in 2027.

While global competition may soften the full pass-through of these costs, the policy nonetheless introduces a structural adjustment in the international solar equipment market. Over the medium term, China’s policy adjustment may also enhance the competitiveness of alternative manufacturing hubs in Southeast Asia, India, and Turkey, encouraging gradual diversification within global solar supply chains.

Global Procurement Pressures

Ahead of April 2026 and its domino effects, international buyers are expected to accelerate purchases to secure current pricing structures. This “front-loading” effect typically results in shorter quotation validity periods, allocation-based supply, and temporary tightness in availability.

“Many buyers are already positioning to secure supply ahead of the policy deadlines, tightening inventory availability.”

For Jamaica, an import-dependent solar market closely tied to China-centered supply chains through regional distributors, these movements are most likely to appear first in the form of extended lead times and inventory allocation pressures, followed by incremental adjustments in landed equipment costs.

Projects quoted locally in Jamaican dollars but procured in U.S. dollars may experience an additional layer of volatility, as shifts in global pricing interact with exchange-rate movements and freight dynamics.

“Solar projects priced in Jamaican dollars but procured in U.S. dollars may face additional volatility as global prices shift.”

Many buyers globally are already positioning to secure supply ahead of the implementation dates, a development that may place additional pressure on inventory availability and procurement timelines in the months ahead.

Gradual Upward Pressure on Solar Installed Costs

Although market competition may absorb a portion of the change, removing export rebates increases the underlying cost base for manufacturers. Solar module pricing may therefore face upward pressure from the second quarter of 2026 onward.

Beginning in April 2026, export rebates for batteries will decline from 9 percent to 6 percent, introducing a modest increase in export-level costs that could translate into several percentage points of upward pressure on battery pricing, depending on how much manufacturers absorb through margins. A more material adjustment may emerge heading into 2027, when the remaining rebate is fully removed.

Additionally, the front-loading of purchases by international buyers is expected to create temporary global supply tightness in the first half of 2026. With demand for solar equipment remaining strong in import-dependent markets such as Jamaica, this short-term scarcity may exert incremental upward pressure on pricing in the near term, compounding the direct effect of the removed export rebates.

For Jamaican homeowners and commercial operators considering solar installation, the implication is relatively straightforward. The current procurement window may offer comparatively stable pricing conditions relative to what could emerge in 2026–2027.

“The current procurement window may offer relatively stable pricing compared with what could emerge in 2026–2027.”

Financing Pathways for Solar Adoption

Institutional Financing Channels

A growing number of financial institutions, including JMMB, EXIM Bank, First Global Bank (FGB), CIBC and Lascelles Employees & Partners Co-operative Credit Union, offer structured financing solutions that allow solar systems to be integrated into broader property or energy investments. In many cases, once a system satisfies local insurability standards, it may serve as secured collateral within these financing arrangements.

“Once a solar system meets insurability standards, it becomes an energy asset and a financeable component of the property.”

Solar Buzz systems are designed and installed to meet the insurability standards required within Jamaica’s insurance industry. As a result, these systems can typically be incorporated into a homeowner’s existing property insurance coverage, allowing them to function not only as an energy asset but also as a financeable component of the property itself.

National Housing Trust (NHT) Financing Programmes

The National Housing Trust (NHT), in particular, provides two notable pathways for homeowners seeking financing of solar energy into their properties:

Smart Energy Loan

Available to all NHT contributors for solar energy installations, offering financing of up to J$2.5 million.

Home Improvement Loan

Providing up to J$5 million, this facility allows homeowners to undertake structural improvements such as roof repairs or roof adjustments required for solar readiness, while also financing the installation of a solar system.

With interest rates typically ranging from approximately 3 percent to 5 percent and repayment periods extending up to 30 years or until retirement, the Trust’s programmes create a rare alignment of long-term financing and energy infrastructure investment.

For many homeowners, this creates a practical pathway to address structural upgrades and solar installation within a single financing structure, strengthening both the physical resilience of the property and its long-term energy cost stability as Jamaica approaches another hurricane season.

Looking Ahead: Solar Adoption in Jamaica

China’s export policy adjustment does not signal disruption so much as it serves as a reminder that global energy markets are continually evolving.

As international buyers adjust procurement strategies ahead of the upcoming policy deadlines, Jamaican households and businesses evaluating solar energy solutions may wish to factor these developments into their planning.

With appropriate timing, sound financing structures, and well-designed solar systems, solar continues to offer a practical pathway toward greater energy resilience and long-term cost stability.

Jamaica’s abundant solar resource, combined with expanding financing pathways, means that thoughtful planning today can help position homeowners and businesses to navigate the evolving energy landscape with greater confidence.

By Deidre Wedderburn

Client Relations Manager, Solar Buzz

Focused on building long-term partnerships and delivering a high-quality client experience

deidre@solarbuzzjamaica.com

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China’s Solar Policy Shift: What It Means for Jamaica’s Solar Market

March 15, 2026 jrobinson

Editor’s Note:

In recent client communications we noted that changes to China’s export policies for solar equipment could influence global pricing and supply dynamics. Because Jamaica’s solar market remains closely connected to international supply chains, developments abroad often shape local procurement conditions. As promised, this edition examines what these developments may mean for Jamaica’s growing solar market.

The global solar supply chain is entering a period of adjustment. China, the world’s largest producer of photovoltaic equipment, has announced changes to export tax rebates that have historically helped stabilize international solar pricing. This policy adjustment is expected to influence global supply chain dynamics and is likely to affect international solar pricing structures over time.

Under the new policy framework, export VAT rebates for photovoltaic products, including solar panels, cells, wafers, inverters, and other PV system components will be eliminated beginning April 1, 2026. Export rebates for batteries will decline from 9 percent to 6 percent in April 2026 before being fully eliminated on January 1, 2027.

As these incentives are phased out, procurement patterns, equipment availability, and ultimately the economics of solar installation in import-dependent markets such as Jamaica are likely to be affected. These rebates have historically helped offset exporters’ tax burdens, lowering international prices. Their removal raises the underlying cost structure for manufacturers unless those costs are absorbed through narrower margins.

“Removing export rebates raises the cost base for solar manufacturers unless those costs are absorbed through tighter margins.”

Storage-inclusive solar systems, which are increasingly important for backup reliability, may remain relatively stable through much of 2026 but still warrant proactive planning ahead of the more significant pricing adjustment expected in 2027.

While global competition may soften the full pass-through of these costs, the policy nonetheless introduces a structural adjustment in the international solar equipment market. Over the medium term, China’s policy adjustment may also enhance the competitiveness of alternative manufacturing hubs in Southeast Asia, India, and Turkey, encouraging gradual diversification within global solar supply chains.

Global Procurement Pressures

Ahead of April 2026 and its domino effects, international buyers are expected to accelerate purchases to secure current pricing structures. This “front-loading” effect typically results in shorter quotation validity periods, allocation-based supply, and temporary tightness in availability.

“Many buyers are already positioning to secure supply ahead of the policy deadlines, tightening inventory availability.”

For Jamaica, an import-dependent solar market closely tied to China-centered supply chains through regional distributors, these movements are most likely to appear first in the form of extended lead times and inventory allocation pressures, followed by incremental adjustments in landed equipment costs.

Projects quoted locally in Jamaican dollars but procured in U.S. dollars may experience an additional layer of volatility, as shifts in global pricing interact with exchange-rate movements and freight dynamics.

“Solar projects priced in Jamaican dollars but procured in U.S. dollars may face additional volatility as global prices shift.”

Many buyers globally are already positioning to secure supply ahead of the implementation dates, a development that may place additional pressure on inventory availability and procurement timelines in the months ahead.

Gradual Upward Pressure on Solar Installed Costs

Although market competition may absorb a portion of the change, removing export rebates increases the underlying cost base for manufacturers. Solar module pricing may therefore face upward pressure from the second quarter of 2026 onward.

Beginning in April 2026, export rebates for batteries will decline from 9 percent to 6 percent, introducing a modest increase in export-level costs that could translate into several percentage points of upward pressure on battery pricing, depending on how much manufacturers absorb through margins. A more material adjustment may emerge heading into 2027, when the remaining rebate is fully removed.

Additionally, the front-loading of purchases by international buyers is expected to create temporary global supply tightness in the first half of 2026. With demand for solar equipment remaining strong in import-dependent markets such as Jamaica, this short-term scarcity may exert incremental upward pressure on pricing in the near term, compounding the direct effect of the removed export rebates.

For Jamaican homeowners and commercial operators considering solar installation, the implication is relatively straightforward. The current procurement window may offer comparatively stable pricing conditions relative to what could emerge in 2026–2027.

“The current procurement window may offer relatively stable pricing compared with what could emerge in 2026–2027.”

Financing Pathways for Solar Adoption

Institutional Financing Channels

A growing number of financial institutions, including JMMB, EXIM Bank, First Global Bank (FGB), CIBC and Lascelles Employees & Partners Co-operative Credit Union, offer structured financing solutions that allow solar systems to be integrated into broader property or energy investments. In many cases, once a system satisfies local insurability standards, it may serve as secured collateral within these financing arrangements.

“Once a solar system meets insurability standards, it becomes an energy asset and a financeable component of the property.”

Solar Buzz systems are designed and installed to meet the insurability standards required within Jamaica’s insurance industry. As a result, these systems can typically be incorporated into a homeowner’s existing property insurance coverage, allowing them to function not only as an energy asset but also as a financeable component of the property itself.

National Housing Trust (NHT) Financing Programmes

The National Housing Trust (NHT), in particular, provides two notable pathways for homeowners seeking financing of solar energy into their properties:

Smart Energy Loan

Available to all NHT contributors for solar energy installations, offering financing of up to J$2.5 million.

Home Improvement Loan

Providing up to J$5 million, this facility allows homeowners to undertake structural improvements such as roof repairs or roof adjustments required for solar readiness, while also financing the installation of a solar system.

With interest rates typically ranging from approximately 3 percent to 5 percent and repayment periods extending up to 30 years or until retirement, the Trust’s programmes create a rare alignment of long-term financing and energy infrastructure investment.

For many homeowners, this creates a practical pathway to address structural upgrades and solar installation within a single financing structure, strengthening both the physical resilience of the property and its long-term energy cost stability as Jamaica approaches another hurricane season.

Looking Ahead: Solar Adoption in Jamaica

China’s export policy adjustment does not signal disruption so much as it serves as a reminder that global energy markets are continually evolving.

As international buyers adjust procurement strategies ahead of the upcoming policy deadlines, Jamaican households and businesses evaluating solar energy solutions may wish to factor these developments into their planning.

With appropriate timing, sound financing structures, and well-designed solar systems, solar continues to offer a practical pathway toward greater energy resilience and long-term cost stability.

Jamaica’s abundant solar resource, combined with expanding financing pathways, means that thoughtful planning today can help position homeowners and businesses to navigate the evolving energy landscape with greater confidence.

By Deidre Wedderburn

Deidre Wedderburn is Client Relations Manager at SolarBuzz, supporting homeowners and businesses across Jamaica as they transition to solar energy.

deidre@solarbuzzjamaica.com

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Elon Musk’s Tesla given go-ahead to supply electricity in Great Britain

March 15, 2026 jrobinson

Ofgem licence means firm can replicate Texas setup of powering homes, businesses and EVs

Elon Musk’s Tesla has won approval to supply electricity to households and businesses across Great Britain, as the tech billionaire expands his energy ambitions.

The energy regulator, Ofgem, has formally granted Tesla an electricity supply licence, enabling it to provide electricity to domestic and business premises in England, Scotland and Wales.

The company is expected to replicate its supply business in Texas, where it is branded as Tesla Electric and offers to help customers power “your home, electric vehicle and community with low-cost sustainable electricity”.

However, Tesla’s electricity licence means it cannot offer a dual fuel contract to households. It could supply a customer’s electricity if they had a separate tariff agreement for their gas supply.

In Texas the company already operates a “virtual power plant” that allows Tesla owners to charge their cars cheaply and then pays them for selling electricity stored in its Powerwall home batteries back to the grid.

In Britain the “virtual power plant” for Powerwall owners is offered through Octopus Energy, another household energy supplier.

Tesla does not report how many Powerwalls it has sold in Britain but it has sold more than 250,000 electric vehicles.

The carmaker’s sales have slumped in the UK and much of mainland Europe in the past year amid tougher competition in the electric car market and controversy around Musk’s politics.

Tesla’s UK sales fell 37% from 3,852 to 2,422 in February compared with the same period last year, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

It estimated that Tesla’s market share in the UK stands at 1.34% in the year to date, below its Chinese rival BYD at 2.64% and BMW at 5.43%.

Sales were hurt in part by a buyer backlash against Musk’s support for Donald Trump and a period working in the president’s administration. In his role at the “department of government efficiency”, or Doge, the billionaire led sweeping job cuts, but he quit in May after falling out with Trump over the “big, beautiful” tax and spending bill.

Musk also alienated customers through other political interventions, including appearing to give a Nazi salute at Trump’s victory rally, showing support for Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland party, and accusing Keir Starmer and other senior UK politicians of covering up the scandal about grooming gangs.

In December, Tesla launched a lower-priced version of its Model 3 car in Europe, in a push to revive sales. Musk has previously argued that the cheaper option would reinvigorate demand by appealing to a wider range of buyers.

Tesla was approached for comment.

The Guardian

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UK must double down on renewables as wars drive up energy costs, experts say

March 15, 2026 jrobinson

Fossil fuel price surge after US-Israeli attacks on Iran prompts calls to end dependence on ‘volatile’ energy source.

The UK government must double down on its clean energy drive to protect bill payers from increasingly volatile fossil fuel markets in the wake of the US-Israel war on Iran, climate groups, academics and energy experts have warned.

Research published on Thursday shows that the last fossil fuel energy crisis, caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, cost the EU and the UK $1.8tn between 2022 and 2025, driving up bills and fuelling a devastating cost of living crisis.

The US-Israeli attacks on Iran, which started at the weekend, have resulted in fossil fuel prices surging again. Experts say it underscores the need for the UK to end its dependance on such an unstable energy source.

Bob Ward, from the Grantham Research Institute at the London School of Economics, warned the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and subsequent surge in oil and gas prices “could translate into significantly higher energy bills for British households and consumers”.

“The UK is vulnerable to the volatility of international fossil fuel markets, and the only way to protect ourselves from these price increases is by speeding up the transition to domestic supplies of clean energy, namely renewables and nuclear power.”

The UN’s climate chief, Simon Stiell, said the latest upheaval in the Middle East “shows yet again that fossil fuel dependence leaves economies, businesses, markets and people at the mercy of each new conflict or trade policy lurch.”.

He added: “There is a clear solution to this fossil fuel cost chaos – renewables are now cheaper, safer and faster-to-market, making them the obvious pathway to energy security and sovereignty.”

Research published on Thursday by the Transition Security Project showed that the 2022 energy shock had cost the UK and the EU $1.8tn and left governments increasingly dependent on imports of liquid natural gas from the US, giving Donald Trump a stranglehold over EU and UK energy supplies.

The study found the rising costs came through higher household and business energy bills and from the cost of government policies such as price caps, rebates and tax cuts, which aimed to softened the direct impact on consumers of the fossil fuel crisis.

Kevin Cashman, author of the report, said the 2022 energy crisis “presented a fork in the road for Europe – double down on volatile fossil fuel markets, or pivot to homegrown clean energy and greater security”.

“The failure to do the latter has left people on ordinary incomes paying the price for an irresponsible and shortsighted energy policy,” he said.

Khem Rogaly, co-director at the Transition Security Project, said European leaders had prioritised their relationship with the US over the needs of their citizens after the 2022 energy crisis. “Instead of clinging on to a broken transatlantic partnership, Europe needs to develop an independent foreign policy based on international solidarity, restraint and climate collaboration.”

Earlier this week, eight former energy ministers wrote an open letter to the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, urging the government to reverse its ban on new oil and gas licences in the North Sea and give the green light to two new fields, Rosebank and Jackdaw.

But experts say such a move would do nothing to reduce energy bills, improve energy security, protect fossil fuel jobs in the long term or reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil fuel imports. It would also be a significant blow to efforts to fight the climate crisis and reduce emissions.

The energy secretary, Ed Miliband, said on Wednesday that the latest conflict in the Middle East was “yet another reminder that the only route to energy security and sovereignty for the UK is to get off our dependence on fossil fuel markets, whose prices we do not control, and onto clean homegrown power we do”.

He added: “The Tories and Reform have opposed our clean energy mission at every turn. They have learned nothing from their own failures during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which landed us with the biggest cost of living crisis in generations due to our exposure to fossil fuels. The North Sea will continue to play an important role in our energy mix for decades to come, but new exploration licences won’t take a penny off bills.”

Tessa Khan, the executive director of Uplift, said the “oil and gas industry, and its political cheerleaders, were peddling a fantasy”. She said new fields such as Rosebank would do nothing to protect UK households from the inevitable price shocks caused by war in the Middle East.

“Rosebank is an oilfield whose reserves, if developed, would be exported – like 80% of all UK oil. It contains minimal gas. In the best case, it would provide just one per cent of UK gas demand. Like all North Sea production, it would do nothing to lower our energy bills.”

Khan pointed out that even if the UK continued to develop new fields, it would still become almost entirely dependent on gas imports by 2050, due to the declining oil and gas reserves in the North Sea basin, leaving bill payers and businesses “hugely exposed to price shocks for decades to come. All this while the nation sits on some of the best wind resources in the world”.

She added: “This is not the first time we have seen the gas price soar off the back of conflict and it will not be the last. We need this government to urgently learn the lessons of the past five years – that the UK’s dependence on oil and gas is making us all poorer – and instead free us from fossil fuels by doubling down on renewables and upgrading homes.”

The Guardian

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Australian Energy Regulator to cap power bills and offer free solar electricity

March 15, 2026 jrobinson

Australia’s energy regulator will cap key elements of electricity bills for the first time while introducing incentives to use power when solar generation is flooding the grid, as the Albanese government moves to ease political pressure over soaring household energy costs.

The reforms will be made through the Default Market Offer – the benchmark electricity price set by the Australian Energy Regulator for households and small businesses in NSW, South Australia and southeast Queensland.

The changes will cap individual tariff components such as daily supply charges and peak electricity rates, tightening a system that previously allowed retailers broad flexibility in how tariffs were structured provided the overall annual benchmark price was met.

The regulator had flagged the changes without specifics to the Default Market Offer.

The most eye-catching element of the reforms is the introduction of a new ‘Solar Sharer Offer’ – which will provide households with a daily window of free electricity in the middle of the day when solar power is abundant.

Under the proposal, retailers with more than 1000 customers will be required to make the opt-in tariff available, offering three hours of free electricity during daylight hours – between 11am and 2pm in NSW and southeast Queensland, and from noon to 3pm in South Australia.

The free electricity will be capped at roughly the amount of power used in a day by a five-person household, after which normal regulated tariffs will apply.

The policy is designed to encourage households to run energy-hungry appliances – such as washing machines, dishwashers or electric vehicle chargers – in the middle of the day when solar generation is flooding the grid and wholesale power prices are often at their lowest.

The changes come as electricity costs remain a politically charged issue after households endured sharp increases in power bills following the global energy shock triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Wholesale electricity prices surged as global gas and coal markets tightened, flowing through to retail power bills across Australia. The spike left a record number of households struggling to pay their electricity bills and forced governments to introduce a range of cost-of-living measures aimed at cushioning the blow for consumers.

The surge in electricity prices also became a significant contributor to Australia’s inflation spike, prompting repeated warnings from policymakers about the role energy costs were playing in pushing up household living expenses.

Against that backdrop, Labor has increasingly sought to point to retailer pricing behaviour as it tries to demonstrate action on energy bills.

Retailers, however, argue thebiggest driver of rising electricity costs is the expense of expanding networks and building new generation needed to support the government’s rapid shift toward renewable energy.

The AER says the latest reforms are designed to stop retailers shifting costs into particular parts of a power bill – such as sharply higher supply charges or expensive peak-time electricity rates – while still technically complying with the overall annual benchmark price.

Before the reforms, the Default Market Offer operated primarily as a cap on the total annual bill rather than the structure of the tariff itself. While the regulator set the benchmark price for a typical customer, retailers could decide how the individual charges – including supply fees and electricity usage rates – were arranged to reach that total.

The new measures form part of a broader redesign of the benchmark price following reforms announced by the federal government in late 2025 aimed at strengthening the Default Market Offer as a consumer safeguard while adapting the electricity system to Australia’s rapidly growing solar generation.

Alongside the tariff limits, the regulator will also publish two benchmark prices for households in each distribution zone for the first time – one based on a flat electricity rate and another based on time-of-use tariffs – giving consumers a clearer way to compare electricity plans as retailers increasingly charge different prices depending on when power is used.

The latest initiatives come as energy policymakers have increasingly focused on the challenge created by Australia’s rooftop solar boom. While solar power has helped push down electricity prices during daylight hours, demand surges in the evening as people return home and solar generation fades, putting pressure on the grid and driving the need for additional generation and network investment.

Shifting more electricity use into the middle of the day could help smooth those peaks and reduce the amount of expensive infrastructure needed to keep the system running.

The Default Market Offer itself is designed as a safety net for customers who do not shop around for better electricity deals, while also acting as the reference price against which retailers advertise discounts on market offers.

Despite its role as the benchmark price, relatively few customers remain on the standing offer, with fewer than 10 per cent of households and about 18 per cent of small businesses using it.

The regulator will release a draft determination next week before finalising the benchmark price in May following consultation with retailers, consumer groups and other stakeholders. The new price will take effect from July 1.

The Australian

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Faced with rising electricity prices, Americans are stealthily adding DIY solar systems. And they aren’t telling utilities

March 15, 2026 jrobinson

Agnes Chan is part of a stealth solar revolution bubbling up in the US. The retired teacher has a tiny solar system propped up in her backyard in Berkeley, California, and plugged into a regular outlet. It costs around $2,000, shaves about $50 off her monthly bills, and she’s evangelical about it. “I have already recommended it many times,” she said.

Originally, Chan had wanted a full rooftop solar system, but the $20,000-plus price tag was unaffordable. Plug-in solar offered a cheaper, portable and more flexible option: It was incredibly easy to set up, would help keep her 100-year-old house toasty this winter and would pay for itself in three years.

Chan is one of a growing number of Americans turning to plug-in solar — also called “balcony solar” as it’s often slung over balconies — to help bring down soaring energy bills. Even as the Trump administration seeks to squash renewable energy, the interest is spurring action in nearly 30 states that are now considering legislation to make these cheap, small systems more accessible.

There are hurdles, however. Plug-in solar currently exists in a legal “gray area,” said Cora Stryker, co-founder of Bright Saver, a non-profit that advocates for balcony solar. Almost every state requires an agreement with the local utility company, a process that can take months and add costs.

That’s why people are going stealth and hooking up “guerilla solar” systems without telling their utility, Stryker said.

The beauty of plug-in solar is its simplicity: People pick up cheap, small solar panels, hang them almost anywhere without the need for an electrician, plug them into a regular outlet and start generating electricity — it’s essentially a DIY power plant. The only bit of special kit required is a microinverter, which allows the energy generated from the sun to feed directly into household electricity.

Germany is the pioneer, with 1.23 million balcony systems installed, according to the country’s Federal Network Agency. The real number may be as high as 4 million, as many systems are believed to be unregistered, according to a 2025 report from Solar Power Europe.

Regulations in that country have facilitated the boom, including by effectively preventing landlords blocking tenants from installing balcony solar. For Germans, it’s as easy as popping into Ikea to buy a panel, with prices starting at around $235. Data suggests plug-in solar can cut energy bills by 10% to 20%.

When Utah Republican State Representative Ray Ward first came across news articles about what was happening in Germany, it got his brain whirring. The more he read, the more it appealed. “You’re like, oh my gosh, this is so simple compared to what we’re doing and then it makes you wonder why you can’t have that here.”

So, he did something no other state had done. He sponsored a bill to allow small plug-in systems to be used by Utah residents without needing agreements with utility companies.

“People always want to tell you: ‘well that’s just impossible, that’s dangerous, you’d better not do that it will burn the building down’,” Ward said. He just pointed to Germany’s yearslong record, and told them: “It hasn’t burnt down.”

Ward’s arguments worked; the bill passed last year. What was astonishing was that it passed unanimously, said Jennifer Eden, a senior associate at the non-profit Utah Clean Energy. “The amount of buzz and interest it has created is fairly remarkable.”

The appeal of balcony solar is clear for those on the left, who want clean energy, and for those on the right, who want to meet their needs without government interference, Stryker said. “It’s almost a choose your own adventure of what narrative will appeal to your constituency,” she added.

Concerns about rising oil and gas prices due to conflict in the Middle East, may add another reason for both sides of the aisle to be interested.

Utah’s move has set off a legislative wave. At least 28 states, including Washington, California, Oklahoma and South Carolina, have draft bills in the works that would smooth the way to a much broader uptake.

But utility agreements are not the only hurdle. Another key issue is safety standards. While the constituent parts of plug-in solar — the panels and the microinverter — are certified for safety, there isn’t a certification for the system as a whole.

Concerns include the risk of overloading home circuits, causing wires to overheat and catch fire, and potential shock hazards for utility workers if devices unexpectedly export power to the grid. Germany has introduced measures to mitigate these risks, but the market is much newer in the US, which also operates a different electrical system.

Some utilities and trade groups have opposed draft bills. In Washington, Puget Sound Energy and the Association of Washington Business both testified against the state’s draft plug-in solar bill, citing safety concerns. There is a lack of “clear product safety certification for how these devices perform in real apartment buildings,” said AWB’s government affairs director Peter Godlewski.

But neither organization said they were opposed in principle to balcony solar. “If we’re able to address these issues, we could get to supporting the bill,” said a spokesperson for Puget Sound Energy.

Each safety risk “can be mitigated with engineered solutions, but products with those safety mitigations will differ from those presently on the market,” said Ken Boyce, a vice president at UL Solutions, a company that develops safety standards. In January, UL Solutions released a certification framework for plug-in solar.

Advocates hope final safety standards won’t add extra costs to those wanting plug in solar, for example by requiring professional installation.

“I am not trying to say we just don’t need a safety standard … but it’s not an electrically complicated product,” Ward said. He believes opposition lies in unfamiliarity with these tiny systems, which are very different to more complex rooftop solar systems.

There aren’t official statistics on how many US households have balcony solar, but there is evidence of their popularity. Texas-based company CraftStrom sells plug-in solar in all 50 states and sold 1,200 units last year. It advises customers to notify their utility but, as their kits don’t export any power to the grid, interconnection agreements typically aren’t needed, said Stephan Scherer, a company founder.

Balcony solar will only ever cover a fraction of American’s energy needs; these systems are small — that’s their whole point. But Stryker believes they can both tackle soaring bills and show people the benefits of renewable energy. “It is real gateway to clean energy awareness,” she said.

As proponents wait for regulations to catch up, they say the numbers of early adopters like Chan will continue to grow. “There are people who are savvy and adventurous, who are going to figure out ways to make this work,” said Utah Clean Energy’s Eden.

Ward thinks the clamor for balcony solar will only get louder. “It’s so easy to understand and people know they want it,” Ward said. “People are saying well why can’t I have this?”

CNN