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Reimagining Homes: Building Resilience into Jamaica’s Housing Legacy

February 1, 2026 jrobinson

From the CEO’s Desk

As Jamaica navigates an era defined by climate volatility, energy insecurity, and evolving patterns of habitation, the definition of home demands renewed examination.

Beyond questions of access and affordability, contemporary housing must now be evaluated by its capacity to endure disruption, sustain essential services, and safeguard human dignity in moments of national distress.

This article reflects Solar Buzz’s contribution to a broader, ongoing discourse among housing, energy, and development stakeholders on the future of Jamaican home design and ownership. It explores the imperative of embedding energy resilience and climate-responsive design into the foundations of housing policy and practice, and considers how these principles must inform the next chapter of Jamaica’s housing legacy.

We are pleased to share these perspectives with our community as part of our continued commitment to advancing resilient, sustainable energy solutions.

In celebration of the National Housing Trust’s (NHT) 50th anniversary, Solar Buzz was invited to contribute to the Trust’s special Home, Hope & Heritage edition of Home & A Way magazine. Drawing on his expertise in solar energy, CEO Jason Robinson highlights how resilient design can strengthen Jamaican homes in the face of escalating climate challenges. We are proud to present this contribution as a feature of our company newsletter.

“If the next fifty years of Jamaican housing are to truly serve our people, resilience must be built in, not added on.”

As Jamaica marks the National Housing Trust’s (NHT) landmark 50th anniversary, the special “Home, Hope & Heritage” edition of the Trust’s Home & A Way invites us to reflect on what defines a Jamaican home in the 21st century.

For decades, our national housing conversation has rightly focused on access, affordability, and ownership. Today, that conversation must expand to include energy resilience where homes are designed not only to shelter families, but to withstand disruption, maintain essential services, and protect livelihoods when the grid falters and storms test our infrastructure.

Against the backdrop of intensifying climate challenges and the devastating passage of Hurricane Melissa, which left billions of dollars in damage and widespread power outages in its wake, the case for resilient housing has never been clearer. Energy resilience is now an immediate national priority.

From Shelter to Security: Redefining the Jamaican Home

Housing stakeholders across the value chain such as developers, financiers and homeowners must now embrace energy independence through solar power paired with battery storage.

Developers have a critical role to play by integrating these systems directly into housing designs, positioning power resilience not as a luxury upgrade, but as a core feature of modern Jamaican homes.

Homeowners, in turn, must ensure that their solar systems are professionally designed and installed in full compliance with Jamaica’s electrical codes. Proper engineering, certified installation, and adherence to standards are essential for safety, optimal performance, and long-term resilience.

A home in Jamaica is no longer defined solely by walls and roofing; it is defined by its ability to function as a self-supporting system sustaining stability, safety, and everyday living even when the national grid fails.

Reimagining Home through Financing and Design

Resilient design must be matched by accessible financing. This is where the NHT’s legacy becomes especially relevant. The National Housing Trust has long set the benchmark for accessible, affordable home ownership through attractive loan terms including support for solar adoption.

At this pivotal moment, the NHT’s leadership offers a powerful model for the wider financial sector. Commercial banks and lending institutions can follow the NHT’s lead by introducing innovative financing for solar and battery storage with attractive loan terms.

When energy resilience is embedded into housing finance at the point of purchase or construction, homeowners benefit immediately from reduced electricity costs, increased energy security and the stability of one less monthly bill. This approach not only empowers families, but strengthens our communities and reduces national vulnerability during climate-related disruptions.

Reimagining Home Post Hurricane Melissa

The visceral divide between Jamaican households after Hurricane Melissa was unmistakable.

Families with reliable solar systems backed by battery storage were able to keep food refrigerated, preserve life-saving medication, maintain communication, and in some cases support remote work or online learning for their children.

Meanwhile, households without power grappled with prolonged outages, financial strain, and displacement. This contrast redefined the Jamaican home as not just a place of comfort but a bastion of self-reliance.

Energy independence has now evolved from a lifestyle choice or environmental preference into an indispensable safeguard for homes and family well-being.

Solar systems paired with battery storage transform homes into self-supporting ecosystems where power, comfort, and normalcy can be maintained even when the national grid fails.

Reimagining Homes in Jamaica for Resilient Design

Hurricane Melissa provided critical real-world insight, reinforcing the need for Jamaican homeowners to rethink and embrace resilient design. Roof type, structural integrity, and installation methodology emerged as central to energy resilience.

Standing seam metal roofs and concrete slab roofs performed particularly well in high-wind zones and have proven to be ideal foundations for roof-mounted solar systems in Jamaica when wind loading is properly engineered. These roof types offer superior strength, reduced uplift risk, and greater long-term durability when paired with professionally designed solar mounting systems.

The storm reinforced a vital truth that no solar system can outperform the roof it sits on. Annual roof inspections, proper maintenance, and structural assessments are now essential components of resilient homeownership.

Building Resilience into Jamaica’s Housing Legacy

As the National Housing Trust commemorates its 50th anniversary, the opportunity before us is clear. Climate-conscious architecture that integrates renewable energy and battery storage must become a defining feature of Jamaica’s next housing chapter – not only to reduce costs, but to protect lives, livelihoods, and dignity in an era of intensifying climate threats.

The NHT’s half-century legacy of expanding homeownership and affordability has laid a strong foundation for nation-building. Now, Jamaican housing must evolve to mirror that legacy by prioritising energy resilience as an integral part of home design and ownership.

By embedding solar photovoltaic (PV) systems with battery storage, alongside resilient designs such as engineered metal roofing suited to Jamaica’s high-wind zone, into both new and existing developments, stakeholders can redefine the Jamaican home as a fortress of self-reliance.

Developers must lead by making these features standard rather than optional. Financiers, inspired by the NHT’s attractive loan terms, should innovate green financing products that bundle resilience from day one.

Homeowners, supported by professional installation standards and compliance incentives, can embrace this shift with confidence knowing it delivers immediate savings and long-term security.

The NHT’s golden milestone reminds us that accessible housing has always powered Jamaican dreams.

If the next fifty years of housing are to truly serve the people of Jamaica, resilience must be built in, not added on. By reimagining how we design, finance, and experience home, Jamaica can lead the way in creating communities that endure, adapt, and thrive.

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Australia’s grid now relies on renewable energy as much as coal. Those who doubted it look foolish

February 1, 2026 jrobinson

Solar met the majority of electricity demand between 9am and 6pm in the past week as much of the country cranked air conditioners

Australia’s power grid is changing rapidly – so rapidly that it can feel difficult to keep up.

This week, as an oppressive heatwave in the country’s south-east rewrote temperature records, there was also plenty of evidence demonstrating just how fast long-held assumptions about the electricity system are being overturned.

A significant part of the change is due to the astonishing rise of solar power, and the extent to which it is squashing coal generation. The grid is now operating in a way that many people considered unimaginable, and maybe impossible, not that long ago.

Back then, some commentators claimed the grid would not be able to function with more than 10% – and definitely not more than 20% – electricity coming from solar and wind.

Those predictions look foolish now.

Over the past seven days, solar provided 30% of all electricity in the country’s main grid, which supplies the five eastern states and the ACT. That’s across day and night.

If you narrow the calculation to consider just when the sun is out, the numbers are even more striking. Solar met 59% of electricity demand between 9am and 6pm. More than half of this – 37.6% of the total – was from small-scale systems spread across about 4m roofs. The rest was from large-scale solar farms.

Dylan McConnell, a senior research associate at the University of New South Wales, says between 12pm and 1pm solar output peaked at 67% of consumption. It was more than 70% in New South Wales and South Australia.

Coal-fired power, the historic backbone of the grid that once supplied nearly 90% of power, could not compete. Solar energy is incredibly cheap. It costs much more to burn coal. It meant the country’s ageing coal fleet was reduced to filling in gaps, kicking in barely a quarter of the electricity used over lunchtime.

That changed as the sun set, when the grid leant much more heavily on coal, with notable support from wind, hydro and batteries and gas.

The system still needs the existing dirty and often inefficient power plants that burn black and brown coal and emit significant amounts of climate pollution to function. There are significant challenges that need to be overcome before all coal plants can be shut, including building a fleet of synchronous condensers and other spinning devices needed to maintain grid security.

But an often overlooked point is that the grid is now just as reliant on renewable energy as it is coal. Each provides nearly half of the electricity that keeps our homes, businesses and, increasingly, cars running across the year.

In parts of the year, renewables are now ahead. The Australian Energy Market Operator this week described the last three months of 2025 as a “landmark moment”, with renewables’ share in the quarter rising beyond 50% for the first time.

It coincided with a 44% fall in wholesale electricity prices compared with the same period in 2024. Just as notably, output from batteries – which will be needed on a far greater scale as coal shuts – tripled in just a year.

It’s worth remembering how quickly this has changed. Five years ago renewables provided about 26% of generation. A decade ago it was less than 15%, with solar on less than 2%.

McConnell says one of the most remarkable things this week was how well the system coped as temperatures in parts of Melbourne pushed north of 45C and demand for electricity skyrocketed as people ran air conditioners at full bore. These sorts of conditions are often a cue for warnings of blackouts or load shedding.

Not this time.

“We had a little bit of volatility in the evening, but not much. That’s quite extraordinary for a system during peak demand,” McConnell says. “They are the days when the system is under stress. Things could have gone wrong, but they didn’t. There were really very few issues.”

Australia is in a slightly strange moment on renewable energy. From one perspective, it is embracing renewables, and solar in particular, what by any measure is a historic pace. From another, investment in new developments may not be happening fast enough to meet climate targets, or to ensure there is enough replacement capacity in place as old and failing coal plants close.

The reality is that both are true.

The transition being attempted is huge, more needs to be done, and there may be difficult moments ahead during a rapid shift to a near 100% renewable grid. Some actors – the Queensland LNP government, for example – are doing their best to prevent it.

But change is happening, and working. That’s no small thing.

The Guardian

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The Push for US Balcony Solar Comes to California

February 1, 2026 jrobinson

Nearly two dozen states are weighing plug-in solar systems.

For years, many Europeans have enjoyed what Americans can’t have. Balcony solar has taken off there, while American homes and apartments have been left in the dark.

But that may be changing: California recently introduced legislation that would legalize installing cheap DIY solar systems to protect against blackouts and help with affordability. It’s not the only state, either.

As electricity prices soar and rooftop solar subsidies vanish, some US renters and homeowners are surreptitiously installing solar panels on balconies and backyards without their utility’s permission. Legislation recently introduced in nearly two dozen states would legalize “plug-in solar” systems, jumpstarting a nascent market for an affordable source of renewable energy.

Also called balcony solar, such systems usually comprise two to four solar panels that are plugged into wall outlets. They typically cost about $2,000 or more and generate enough electricity to power a refrigerator, electronics and lights, potentially shaving several hundred dollars a year from utility bills. Some plug-in solar systems come with batteries to store power for use during peak demand when electricity rates spike and when storms or heat waves knock out the grid.

Millions of balcony solar systems have been deployed in countries like Germany, which regulates the technology. But only about 5,000 have been installed in the US, according to advocates, most without utility authorization. That’s because plug-in solar has remained in the shadows due to a lack of safety standards and often costly requirements imposed by utilities, but that’s changing. Utah in 2025 enacted a law allowing plug-in solar without utility approval and other states are considering similar legislation, including New York and California, the nation’s largest solar market.

“The impact of California passing legislation would be huge and will get manufacturers to come into the market,” said Kevin Chou, cofounder and executive director of Bright Saver, a Bay Area nonprofit that sells do-it-yourself plug-in solar systems and has pushed to legalize the technology.

Under the legislation introduced in January in California, residents could install plug-in solar systems without utility authorization. But those systems couldn’t generate more than 1.2 kilowatts of electricity and must be certified by a nationally recognized testing lab. Legislation in other states contains siBmilar requirements.

Utah’s Republican-dominated legislature unanimously approved a plug-in solar bill in 2025, and the state’s Republican governor signed it into law. Although pro-renewable energy Democrats hold a supermajority in the California legislature, the bill introduced by state Senator Scott Wiener, who is running to replace US Representative Nancy Pelosi, is likely to face opposition from some landlords, homeowners associations and utilities, according to Chou.

Utilities have expressed concern about plug-in solar’s impact on the ability to balance the grid if the systems feed excess electricity to the network without their knowledge. Landlords may worry about solar panels falling off balconies or how they change the look of a building, he said. Homeowners associations, which regulate everything from house colors to landscaping, may object to the aesthetics of backyard solar.

California’s three big investor-owned utilities currently require plug-in solar owners to apply and secure approval to interconnect to the grid, just as owners of rooftop solar must do.

Chou estimates that more than a thousand plug-in solar systems have been installed in California. But PG&E and San Diego Gas & Electric have yet to receive any interconnection applications for the equipment, according to spokespeople.

Bloomberg

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Locking in Resilience Ahead of Global Pricing Shifts

January 18, 2026 jrobinson

The New Cost Reality

Jamaica confronts a sobering reality. The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) has cautioned that inflationary pressures, intensified by Hurricane Melissa’s impact on agriculture, infrastructure, and energy supply chains, will persist, with headline inflation unlikely to return to the 4–6% target band until 2027.

Recent electricity bills have already reflected this strain, registering a 7% increase in December 2025 (for November consumption), driven by reliance on more costly fuel alternatives following disruptions to natural gas supplies and a sharp drop in overall sales.

Beyond these projected domestic pressures, global pricing shifts are set to take effect from April 2026 and will reshape the cost landscape for solar adoption.

Property as the Hedge

Against this backdrop, a more structural response is quietly asserting itself through the transformation of property from a passive holding into an active hedge against inflation.

The BOJ’s warnings underscore the urgency of this shift. With inflation projected to remain elevated well into the medium term, and utility costs unlikely to ease meaningfully before 2027, Jamaicans face a prolonged period in which essential expenses will continue to erode disposable income and operating margins.

The present environment underscores that resilience includes repositioning assets to absorb economic shock. When energy generation is embedded into a home or commercial building, the property itself becomes a stabilising mechanism.

A solar-equipped asset delivers a measurable, recurring financial benefit by reducing exposure to rising electricity costs and, in some cases, eliminating it altogether. Over time, this predictability functions much like an inflation hedge, insulating cash flows, preserving purchasing power, and improving the long-term economics of the asset.

The Household and Business Dividend

For families, this means greater disposable income for education, healthcare, or discretionary spending, alongside more predictable energy costs and a meaningful step towards economic resilience.

For businesses, the implications extend beyond savings. Commercial clients contemplating expansion should incorporate solar as the foundational step.

Lower and more stable energy costs free up capital that might otherwise be siphoned into overhead, enabling reinvestment in growth. Capital can be redeployed into staff investment, productivity enhancements, or expansion.

A solar-powered factory or office also enhances its value proposition to investors, creditors, and clients.

In this context, incorporating solar at the point of business growth, whether during construction, renovation, or scale-up, is a strategic first step in protecting future profitability. The property now becomes not merely an energy source, but a strategic multiplier of value and profitability.

Banking Innovation as the Critical Link

This asset-based logic should resonate just as strongly within Jamaica’s financial sector and, by extension, our public policy.

Banks and lenders have an opportunity, and arguably a responsibility, to modernise how they assess and finance energy infrastructure. The BOJ’s admonition that borrowing will remain costly lends particular urgency to innovative financing mechanisms for solar adoption.

A well-maintained solar system with competitive warranties and a reliable 15–25-year lifecycle constitutes a tangible, appreciating asset.

Banks can leverage solar systems that are actively maintained, particularly those whose upkeep meets insurability criteria, to offer secured lending options where the installation itself serves as collateral. This materially lowers risk and creates scope for more competitive interest rates and terms, reflecting the reduced probability of performance failure or asset degradation.

Such an approach would also alleviate the barriers many borrowers face when attempting to leverage property equity for energy upgrades.

“A well-maintained solar system is not merely equipment; it is bankable infrastructure.”

Financing frameworks that recognise the solar system itself as collateral, particularly when its upkeep is verifiable and insured, can simplify approval processes, reduce transaction costs, and accelerate solar adoption.

In doing so, banks can avoid the cumbersome and often discouraging equity-based lending models that slow decision-making and dampen client demand.

Secured financing where the solar installation itself serves as collateral, democratizes access for middle-income families and small-to-medium enterprises, while aligning lending portfolios with resilient, future-proof investments.

Embedding solar financing into mortgage products, whether for new construction or existing property improvements, would mark a watershed moment. Homebuyers and property investors could access clean energy without a separate financing hurdle, thereby accelerating solar adoption.

For developers and commercial landlords, integrated solar not only reduces operating costs, but enhances rental and resale valuations.

Commercial enterprises must factor energy autonomy into their core expansion playbooks to reduce utility overhead and create competitive headroom in pricing, investment, and growth.

The banking industry is called upon to innovate and craft solar-enabling products that are accessible, equitable, and aligned with long-term economic resilience.

Policy Must Reduce Barriers, Not Add Them

Complementing these private-sector innovations, we recommend that government incentives, particularly the residential solar tax credit (offering 30% of acquisition and installation costs, capped at credit of J$1.2 million for systems valued up to J$4 million for primary residences), be further reviewed and optimized to accelerate mainstream solar adoption.

The residential solar tax credit was conceived to stimulate solar adoption, yet its current structure could benefit from adjustments to enhance accessibility.

For instance, the requirement for a net billing licence, with its associated costs and administrative steps, presents an upfront challenge that may deter some potential adopters, even for systems primarily intended for self-consumption.

For homeowners, the promise of a future credit is diluted by immediate cash outlays and procedural complexity.

There is also a practical precedent for how effective the incentive can be when designed to minimise barriers. One of our clients successfully completed the income tax application process under the residential solar tax incentive and received their benefit by way of a cash refund at a time when the net billing requirement had not yet been introduced.

In that instance, the only meaningful upfront cost was the Government Electrical Regulatory (GER) Certificate of Compliance, which made the process attractive, credible, and relatively seamless. The incentive functioned as it should, rewarding responsible investment while shortening the payback horizon and strengthening household resilience.

If solar energy is to be truly mainstreamed as a national resilience strategy, we suggest evolving incentive mechanisms accordingly. For example, considering a review of the net billing requirement for residential installations primarily intended for self-consumption could help improve adoption rates.

Additionally, structuring the tax credit to facilitate refunds with reduced upfront costs would shorten payback periods, enhance returns, and make solar investment accessible to a wider cross-section of households.

For banks, such policy alignment would further de-risk solar lending by improving cash-flow profiles and strengthening borrower capacity. Homeowners would be better positioned to accelerate the transformation of their property into a stabilising asset capable of absorbing inflationary pressure rather than amplifying it.

“When incentives are accessible, they move from policy intention to lived outcome.”

Several of our clients whom we have assisted in submitting their applications are now awaiting their incentive, which will be issued either as a cash refund or as a tax credit, as applicable.

Our clients’ progress reinforces a central point, that when incentives are structured to reduce upfront costs and procedural requirements, they encourage solar adoption in both principle and practice.

Why Timing Now Matters

The impact of Hurricane Melissa on the standard of living cost is not the only factor urging immediate action by businesses and homeowners to rethink what their assets can do for them.

China, the global epicenter of solar and battery manufacturing, is eliminating key export tax rebates for photovoltaic and battery products beginning April 1, 2026, with further phase-outs for batteries through January 1, 2027.

This reduction is poised to elevate wholesale and retail prices globally, which is significant as most Jamaican solar suppliers rely heavily on Chinese imports.

Solar systems procured now will likely prove more economical than those acquired in the coming quarters, as the absence of these rebates will force upward adjustments in procurement and resale costs.

For Jamaican homeowners and entrepreneurs, this means that early action can avert higher asset costs down the line. Those considering solar must act now, before pricing shifts materially erode the cost advantages of installation.

In this transition, one persistent bill becomes the foundation for sustained prosperity, and properties become the quiet architects of resilience.

The antidote to Jamaica’s protracted inflationary challenge cannot be confined to incremental household austerity or episodic business cost-cutting. Jamaicans will have to be willing to proactively fortify the very assets that define household and commercial stability.

Solar adoption, therefore, is best understood as an exercise in strategic asset optimisation that converts property into a productive instrument capable of stabilising cash flow, preserving purchasing power, and enhancing long-term value.

BOJ’s inflation outlook, higher borrowing costs, utility volatility, and impending global price adjustments are not isolated developments. Together, they form a clear signal.

For stakeholders prepared to respond with innovation rather than inertia, they define a narrowing window to act decisively while the economics remain favourable.

For those considering adoption, SolarBuzz can provide a tailored quote and timeline while current pricing conditions remain favourable. Our team is available for a complimentary online consultation for your home or business.

Deidre Wedderburn is the Client Relations Manager at SolarBuzz, dedicated to building long-term partnerships and delivering top-tier client experience (deidre@solarbuzzjamaica.com).

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Ja’s energy outlook 2026

January 18, 2026 jrobinson

As Jamaica enters 2026 our energy sector stands at a defining crossroads. Rising electricity demand, climate imperatives, and shifting global energy markets are converging at a moment when decisions taken today will shape our economic resilience, competitiveness, and energy security for decades to come.

For a country that depends on imported fuels for close to 90 per cent of its energy needs, the global energy landscape is not an abstract concern — it is felt directly in electricity bills, transportation costs, food prices, and the overall cost of living. The challenge therefore is clear: How do we secure reliable, affordable energy today while building a cleaner more sustainable system for tomorrow?

Emerging from a year marked by price volatility, geopolitical shocks, and seismic swings in global market sentiment, Jamaica’s oil and gas sector enters 2026 with cautious optimism, aided by growing confidence in emerging energy-source options and the continued rise in electricity demand.

Internationally, the oil and gas market remains volatile. Geopolitical tensions, supply disruptions, and shifting trade policies continue to inject uncertainty into price forecasts. While analysts expect only modest demand growth in 2026, supply dynamics and geopolitical risks mean that price stability is far from guaranteed.

For Jamaica, this volatility matters. Our energy security is tightly linked to global markets, and we are therefore exposed to shocks beyond our control. As the country’s primary petroleum supplier, Petrojam carries a national responsibility to ensure reliable fuel supply, even in turbulent global conditions. At the same time, we are accelerating efforts to reduce carbon intensity and support the country’s long-term transition to cleaner energy.

ENERGY SOLUTIONS TO WATCH IN 2026

Renewable energy is poised to continue its growth as one of the world’s fast-growing energy sources, and Jamaica is firmly aligned with this trend. Solar and wind already play an important role in our electricity mix and further expansion is expected.

Petrojam is pursuing multiple initiatives to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix aligned to the country’s move towards cleaner, more sustainable energy. Petrojam is also playing an enabling role in facilitating the adoption and blending of low-carbon fuels, and helping to create the necessary infrastructure and regulatory alignment to accelerate this transition to cleaner energy.

While not a renewable, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is emerging as a critical transition fuel for Jamaica. It offers lower emissions than heavy fuel oil and diesel, greater price stability, and strong potential for use across electricity generation, manufacturing, and public transportation.

Petrojam is positioning itself to play a key role in LNG supply and distribution, supporting the shift of power generation and industrial users to cleaner fuels. LNG will be a key bridge between today’s petroleum-based system and tomorrow’s low-carbon energy future.

Advanced biofuels derived from sustainable biomass, agricultural residues, and solid waste are also gaining traction globally. These fuels offer real potential to reduce emissions in hard-to-abate sectors.

Of note is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which can significantly lower the carbon footprint of air travel. As a major tourism destination and aviation hub, Jamaica stands to benefit strategically from early engagement in SAF development. Renewable diesel and green methanol for marine transport are also emerging opportunities as the shipping sector moves toward decarbonisation.

EMERGING FRONTIERS: NUCLEAR AND HYDROGEN

Globally, there is renewed interest in nuclear energy, particularly as a reliable, carbon-free base load power source for energy-intensive activities such as data centres supporting artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Advances in small modular reactors (SMRs) are making nuclear more accessible to smaller economies.

In Jamaica, nuclear energy remains at the exploratory stage. Petrojam has been invited to be a part of the International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences (ICENS) Working Group, which is examining the potential role of nuclear in a low-carbon energy future, including its application in electricity generation and pink hydrogen production (hydrogen generated from the electrolysis of water using nuclear energy).

Nuclear energy offers low operating costs and high reliability once online, delivering large volumes of carbon-free electricity at stable and predictable prices. By reducing exposure to fuel price volatility it has the potential to support economic development and help level the playing field between high- and low-income countries.

Meaningful consideration of nuclear must be balanced and aligned with safety standards, regulatory readiness, waste management, and public acceptance. The objective at this stage is knowledge preparedness and informed national dialogue.

ENERGY SUBSTITUTION: A GRADUAL REALITY

While the global conversation often suggests rapid substitution away from fossil fuels, the reality for small, developing economies is more complex. Infrastructure constraints, financing requirements, and the need for system reliability mean that energy transition must be carefully managed.

For Jamaica, the path forward is not abrupt replacement but strategic diversification — layering renewables, LNG, and emerging fuels alongside existing petroleum supply to ensure reliability, affordability, and resilience.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance is no longer optional; it is increasingly a prerequisite for attracting capital, maintaining regulatory credibility, and building public trust.

In 2026 Petrojam will be further strengthening its ESG framework, with particular focus on reducing our carbon footprint, enhancing transparency, and improving governance systems. As Jamaica explores offshore oil potential, a strong ESG foundation will be essential to guide responsible development, environmental protection, and stakeholder confidence.

JAMAICA’S REGIONAL ROLE

Beyond domestic supply, Petrojam continues to support regional energy resilience through trade. By refining and supplying high-quality fuels to Caricom member states, we contribute to economic stability and regional integration. 2026 presents an opportunity to further define Jamaica’s role as a regional energy hub- leveraging our infrastructure, logistics capability, and strategic location to support neighbouring economies.

Jamaica’s energy future will be determined not only by technology choices, but by the value we deliver, the depth of our sustainability efforts, and the speed at which we adapt. The energy transition is not just an environmental imperative — it is an economic strategy, a competitiveness issue, and a national resilience priority.

Petrojam stands at the centre of this transition, repositioning to become Jamaica’s multi-energy innovator supporting renewables, advancing LNG, enabling biofuels and SAF, and preparing for emerging technologies. By acting early, building digital and operational resilience, forging strategic alliances, and staying ahead of global energy trends, Jamaica can secure a future that is cleaner, more affordable, and more resilient.

The decisions we take in 2026 will shape our energy security for a generation. If we get them right, Jamaica will not only meet its energy needs but will lead in building a modern, sustainable energy system for the Caribbean.

Jamaica Observer

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China to scrap export tax rebates for photovoltaic and battery products

January 18, 2026 jrobinson

BEIJING, Jan 9 (Reuters) – China will cancel value-added tax export rebates for photovoltaic products from April 1, the finance ministry said in a joint statement with the State Taxation Administration on Friday.

The ministry also said VAT export rebates for battery products will be cut to 6% from 9% between April and December and scrapped entirely from January 1, 2027.

Consumption-tax rebate rules for these products will remain unchanged, the statement added.

The China Photovoltaic Industry Association, in a statement later on Friday, said the move should help curb an excessive decline of export prices in the long run as China’s PV products face intensifying competition in overseas markets.

It noted that some Chinese exporters were using rebates as a price discount for foreign buyers.

“Timely reduction or cancellation of export rebates for photovoltaic products can help promote a rational return of foreign market prices and reduce the risk of trade frictions,” the association said.

China previously reduced the export tax rebate for PV products to 9% from 13% in December 2024 as part of its broader efforts to curb overcapacity and deflationary price wars amid international trade tensions.

Reuters

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The Power of Solar System Maintenance

December 30, 2025 jrobinson

– Installation Is Not the Asset

As climate change drives longer rainy seasons and more frequent, intense storm events, true energy security can no longer be defined solely by system capacity or component quality.

Instead, it is shaped by the quality of ongoing maintenance, the rigor of system oversight, and the strength of the partnership with a solar provider operating a reputable, active maintenance program.

Hurricane Melissa offered a compelling, real-world demonstration of this reality.

While the storm tested infrastructure across the island, it revealed a clear distinction between solar systems that merely existed and those that were actively managed, professionally maintained, and operationally prepared.

Proactive system maintenance underpins resilience, reliability, and long-term return on investment. When paired with a reputable company operating an insurance-approved maintenance program, solar systems evolve from static installations into dynamic energy security assets.

A Partnership for Energy Security

At SolarBuzz, we recognize that energy resilience is not achieved in isolation, but rather through an ongoing partnership with our clients, in which our technical team ensures that equipment condition, system settings, and operational performance remain aligned with evolving environmental conditions and grid realities.

Clients whose systems were under active maintenance prior to Hurricane Melissa benefited from continuous online monitoring, remote system support, proactive adjustment of system settings informed by weather tracking, guidance on maximizing system readiness ahead of landfall, and field visits where required.

These coordinated efforts translated directly into greater continuity of power during and after the storm, even as grid restoration lagged across entire regions.

This partnership model reframes system maintenance from a reactive service into a strategic discipline. It ensures batteries are protected from harmful discharge cycles and that system configurations are proactively optimized to preserve performance and asset lifespan, while also securing dependable backup power when it matters most.

Viewed through this lens, maintenance also functions as a form of asset governance, safeguarding system performance, financial value, and operational intent over the life of the investment.

Risk Management Through Regular System Maintenance

Regular maintenance plays a pivotal role in safeguarding system performance under normal operating conditions.

Routine professional servicing enables early fault detection, supports warranty and insurance compliance, and extends the productive life of high-value components, particularly batteries.

Environmental factors such as dust, salt, and debris can quietly erode energy output by as much as 20% if left unaddressed. When unchecked, minor issues can compound into costly failures, often at the most inopportune times.

Remote monitoring further strengthens this advantage by allowing performance anomalies to be identified and corrected before they escalate into outages or irreversible damage.

Securing Your Power

Hurricane Melissa reinforced a fundamental reality that real energy resilience lies not in the installation of a system, but in its continuous and disciplined maintenance.

At SolarBuzz, our clients experienced uninterrupted power supply from systems that withstood hurricane-force winds, supported by wind-load engineered designs, code-compliant installations, and consistent system management delivered through our maintenance program and responsive technical team.

In keeping with our value statement, the maintenance of our clients’ solar systems is treated as a direct extension of our engineering practice.

Our maintenance program is a data-driven, standards-based approach designed to preserve energy independence, protect financial investment, and ensure that systems perform reliably when national infrastructure is most vulnerable.

As Jamaica enters an era of increasingly severe weather events, proactive system maintenance stands as one of the most powerful tools for safeguarding assets, securing continuity of supply, and maintaining control over the energy future.

Deidre Wedderburn is the Client Relations Manager at SolarBuzz, dedicated to building long-term partnerships and delivering a top-tier client experience (deidre@solarbuzzjamaica.com).

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Renewable energy project approvals hit record high in GB in 2025, data shows

December 30, 2025 jrobinson

Applications to build battery storage drive boom as offshore wind projects given go-ahead jump sevenfold year on year

A record number of renewable energy projects were given the go-ahead in Great Britain in 2025, after planning approvals almost doubled year on year, according to an analysis.

The energy capacity of new battery, wind, and solar projects that received approval climbed to 45GW this year, 96% higher than in 2024, according to data from Cornwall Insight.

The boom was driven by applications to build new battery storage, which almost doubled to 28.6GW this year from 14.9GW in 2024. Planning approvals for offshore wind developments jumped more than sevenfold to 9.9GW from 1.3GW last year.

Planning approvals for battery, wind and solar power have risen by more than 400% over the past five years.

The energy secretary, Ed Miliband, said: “After years of delay and underinvestment, this government is keeping its promise to take back control of Britain’s energy with clean homegrown power.

“Every project we approve, every investment we make is about getting the country off the rollercoaster of fossil fuel markets, protecting households and lowering bills for good.”

The record-breaking surge in planning approvals signals real momentum in the UK’s energy transition, according to Robin Clarke, a senior analyst at Cornwall Insight, but many could still face delays starting up.

“On paper, the UK’s renewables pipeline has never looked stronger,” he said. “But approvals don’t generate electricity, and we urgently need to move from ambition to actual delivery of these projects. Too much capacity is still stuck in queues or waiting on grid upgrades. Grid bottlenecks remain one of the biggest risks to turning today’s approvals into tomorrow’s power.”

Although approvals have accelerated, the pace of projects starting up has lagged behind, largely as a result of long construction timelines and grid connection delays, according to Cornwall.

Many projects have been stuck in a “first come, first served” connections queue, but recent reforms to remove “zombie projects” from the queue and shift to a “first ready, first needed, first connected” approach is expected to clear some of the bottlenecks and quicken the pace of Britain’s renewable energy buildout.

Britain’s energy system operator pulled the plug on hundreds of electricity generation projects earlier this month to clear a huge backlog that had stopped many “shovel-ready” schemes from connecting to the power grid.

More than half of the energy projects in the queue will be removed to make way for about £40bn-worth of schemes considered the most likely to help meet the government’s goal to build a virtually zero-carbon power system by 2030.

Britain’s growing renewables industry may also have accelerated in 2025 as developers rush to get their projects over the line before tougher rules over which projects can connect to the grid, and upcoming local elections that could create uncertainty over future renewable energy planning policies.

Clarke said: “The recent grid connection reforms are a significant step forward, and should help clear some of the backlog, but they won’t solve everything. We need faster decisions, more investment in the grid, and real collaboration between government, regulators and industry. Without that, these record numbers risk becoming just another statistic.”

Cornwall added that the rapid expansion of renewable projects would also mean the UK must reinforce and build out its electricity grid at scale.

“The current infrastructure was never designed for such high volumes of intermittent generation and storage, so investment in grid flexibility, transmission upgrades, and smart technologies will be critical to ensure these projects can deliver power where and when it’s needed,” it said.

The Guardian

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Our Energy Systems Should Reflect Who We Are: Resilient

December 27, 2025 jrobinson

Editor’s Note: Our clients and systems were referenced in a recent New York Times article examining the impact of Hurricane Melissa and how rooftop solar systems performed during and after the storm. Readers who wish to view the article may do so using the link below.

👉 Read the New York Times article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/climate/jamaica-hurricane-solar-power.html

Resilience is not a foreign concept in Jamaica. For generations, Jamaicans have navigated environmental uncertainty and economic constraint with ingenuity, perseverance, and resolve. From small business owners reopening their doors after floodwaters recede, to households restoring order and routine in the aftermath of storms, adaptability is not merely a response – it is our defining trait.

As climate change accelerates and extreme weather events intensify, hurricanes of Melissa’s magnitude are no longer exceptional. In this reality, resilience can no longer rely solely on human determination.

Our capacity to recover must be reinforced by infrastructure, particularly energy systems, that are designed to endure disruption and enable swift recovery. Jamaica’s solar and energy storage systems must deliver continuity, reliability, and stability precisely when communities need them most.

Resilience requires energy systems built to perform under pressure.

Systems That Stand When It Matters Most

In recent storms, a quiet yet consequential shift has been unfolding across the island. Properly designed solar energy systems have emerged as a cornerstone of resilience, supporting not only individual households but entire communities. Installed solar capacity has expanded from less than 1.4 megawatts in 2015 to nearly 65 megawatts by 2024, now accounting for approximately ten percent of Jamaica’s electricity mix.

Beyond capacity figures, solar has revealed a deeper dimension of resilience. When engineered correctly and installed to rigorous standards, these systems become anchors of care and solidarity.

Homes that retain power after a storm often evolve into community lifelines and spaces where neighbours gather to charge devices, preserve food, access information, and reconnect with loved ones. In these moments, resilience transcends technology; it becomes collective.

Post-Melissa reporting in a recent New York Times article underscored this reality. Properly mounted solar panels largely withstood hurricane-force winds, maintained uninterrupted power supply throughout the storm, and enabled households to remain operational while serving as points of support for their communities. The article, After Jamaica’s Disastrous Storm, Solar Power Is a Bright Spot, featuring SolarBuzz clients in Treasure Beach and Kingston, highlights how rooftop solar systems, when done right, deliver continuity of power and meaningful community benefit.

One featured client, Jennifer Hue of Treasure Beach, experienced flooding and property damage during the hurricane, yet her rooftop solar system remained fully operational. While the grid failed, her home stayed powered, allowing neighbours to charge phones, preserve food, and maintain vital communication.

Similarly, Twila-Mae Logan of Kingston was able to use her solar-equipped home as a hub for food storage and family support during the outage.

At SolarBuzz, we view solar not as a lifestyle enhancement, but as essential infrastructure that is central to household safety, economic stability, and energy independence.

These featured systems did not endure by chance. They performed as designed because they were engineered for Jamaica’s environmental realities and installed to standards capable of withstanding hurricane-force winds and extreme conditions.

Breaking the Cycle of Darkness

Despite this progress, access to resilient solar and storage systems remains uneven. While declining global equipment costs, government incentives such as the solar tax credit, financing mechanisms, and net billing policies should, in theory, make solar more attainable, local bureaucratic barriers continue to impede adoption.

Lengthy approval timelines, complex banking and net billing requirements, and lingering policy ambiguity place resilient energy solutions beyond the reach of many Jamaicans. However, climate realities demand the opposite approach.

Reducing dependence on long, vulnerable transmission lines and decentralising power generation directly at the point of use is no longer optional; it is imperative.

Incentive frameworks must therefore be clear, accessible, and free from protracted delays or cost-intensive administrative requirements.

Competitive financing from major banks, including the ability to integrate solar systems into new mortgages, is essential to broadening access to properly designed solar and battery solutions.

As Caribbean leaders continue to call for greater international support to address climate impacts the region played little role in creating, local action must demonstrate clarity, urgency, and execution.

Jamaicans deserve a straightforward, efficient, and affordable pathway to resilient solar adoption, alongside continued investment in strengthening the national grid.

For Jamaica, resilience now means empowering homeowners to invest confidently in high-quality solar and storage systems designed to withstand hurricane-force winds and deliver long-term energy security.

Deidre Wedderburn is the Client Relations Manager at SolarBuzz, dedicated to building long-term partnerships and delivering top-tier client experience (deidre@solarbuzzjamaica.com).

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Spain’s commitment to renewable energy may be in doubt

December 23, 2025 jrobinson

On the edge of the sleepy town of Figueruelas, a single, vast wind turbine spins around, casting its shadow over the buildings nearby.

It’s a reminder of the importance of renewable electricity in this windswept area of Aragón, in north-eastern Spain, whose plains are host to many of the country’s wind and solar energy farms.

Figueruela’s status as a symbol of Spain’s green transition has been further boosted recently, as work starts nearby on the construction of a vast factory that will produce batteries for electric vehicles.

Chinese firm CATL and the Netherlands-based Stellantis are investing a combined €4bn ($4.7bn; £3.5bn) in the facility. Yao Jing, China’s ambassador in Spain, described it as “one of the biggest Chinese investments Europe has ever seen”.

Luis Bertol Moreno, mayor of the town, says the area was a logical choice for the project.

“We’re in Aragón, where there’s wind all year round, there are lots of hours of sunshine, and we are surrounded by wind turbines and solar panels,” he says.

“Those [energy sources] will be crucial in generating electricity for the new factory, and I understand that was the key reason for building it here in Figueruelas.”

The factory can be seen as vindication of Spain’s energy model, which prioritises renewable sources. In 2017, renewables contributed just a third of Spain’s electricity production, but last year they represented 57%.

By 2030, the government wants them to contribute 81% of electricity output.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez summarised his government’s approach as he delivered a riposte to US President Donald Trump’s pro-fossil fuel “Dig, baby, dig” slogan. “Green, baby, green,” said the Socialist, as he pointed to the benefits of renewable energy.

However, in recent months, Spain’s all-in commitment to renewables has come under scrutiny. This was in great part due to an 28 April blackout that left homes, businesses, government buildings, public transport, schools and universities in the dark across Spain and neighbouring Portugal for several hours.

With the government unable to offer a full explanation for the outage, the country’s energy mix became a fiercely-debated political issue. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the conservative opposition, accused the government of “fanaticism” in pursuing its green agenda, suggesting that an over-reliance on renewables might have caused the incident.

Feijóo and others on the right advocated a rethink of the national energy model.

The fact that, a week before the blackout, solar generation in mainland Spain registered a record 61.5% of the electricity mix has fuelled such claims.

Yet the government and national grid operator Red Eléctrica have both denied that the outage was linked to the preponderance of renewable energy sources in Spain.

“We have operated the system with higher renewable rates [previously] with no effect on the security of the system,” says Concha Sánchez, head of operations for Red Eléctrica. “Definitely it’s not a question of the rate of renewables at that moment.”

Ms Sánchez said the blackout was caused by a combination of issues, including an “unknown event” in the system moments before, which saw anomalous voltage oscillations.

However, Red Eléctrica and the government are still awaiting reports on the incident that they hope will determine the exact cause. A cyber-attack has repeatedly been ruled out.

Meanwhile, since April, Spain’s electricity mix has been modified somewhat, with greater reliance on natural gas, reinforcing the notion that the country is at an energy crossroads.

Spain’s nuclear industry, which currently contributes around 20% of national electricity, has been particularly vocal since the blackout, pushing back against government plans to close the country’s five nuclear plants between 2027 and 2035.

With many European countries undergoing a nuclear renaissance, the planned closures make Spain something of an outlier. The companies that own the Almaraz plant in south-western Spain, due to be the first to shut down, have requested a three-year extension to its life until 2030. That request is currently under consideration.

Ignacio Araluce, president of Foro Nuclear, an association that represents the industry, says Spain is the only country in the world that is scheduling the closure of nuclear plants that are in operation. He believes nuclear energy provides stability while being compatible with the green energy transition.

“It’s prudent to have a mix of renewables and nuclear energy,” he says.

Mr Araluce praises renewable sources because they only require natural elements to generate electricity, but points out that they are not able to operate around the clock or when weather is unfavourable.

“How can you produce energy in those hours when the renewables are not producing?” he asks. The answer, he added, is “with a source like nuclear, that is not producing CO2, that is producing all hours of the year”.

The political opposition is staunchly opposed to the nuclear shut-down. The far-right Vox, criticising what it saw as a lack of explanation by the government for the April blackout, recently described nuclear power as “a crucial source of stability”.

Ms Sánchez acknowledges that there is room for improvement for Spain’s electricity model, pointing to the Iberian peninsula’s relative isolation from the European grid compared to most of its EU neighbours. She also sees storage as an issue.

“While we have taken a good path when it comes to renewable installation, we cannot say the same regarding storage,” she says. “We need to foster storage installation.”

Spain’s political panorama adds an element of uncertainty to its energy future. The Socialist-led coalition has been mired in corruption scandals and its parliamentary majority appears to have collapsed in recent weeks, raising the possibility of a snap election in the coming months.

A right-wing government, which polls suggest would be the likely outcome, would almost certainly place less emphasis on renewables and advocate a partial return to more traditional energy sources.

But in the meantime, Spain’s renewable transition continues.

And for Figueruelas, in Aragón, that means not just cheap, clean energy, but investment. The town’s population, of just 1,000, is due to increase dramatically, with 2,000 Chinese workers scheduled to arrive to help build the new battery plant, which is expected to create up to 35,000 indirect jobs once it starts operating.

“These kinds of investments revitalise the area, they revitalise the construction sector, hostelry,” says local man Manuel Martín. “And the energy is free – it just depends on the sun and the wind.”

BBC

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