HAVANA, March 20 (Reuters) – Cuba is making progress on a China-backed plan to install more than 50 solar parks this year capable of churning out more than 1,000 megawatts, the Energy Ministry said late on Wednesday, just days after the country’s antiquated grid collapsed and left millions in the dark.
In the most detailed report yet on the plan’s progress, energy officials said two solar parks had come online in February – one in Havana and one in Cienfuegos – and that by the end of March, workers would complete six more.
By the end of March, eight of the planned 50 solar parks will be operating, producing 170 megawatts, said Ovel Concepción Díaz, a top renewable energy official with the Energy Ministry.
The broader plan to expand renewable energy generation, announced in 2014, has gained momentum in recent months as the government looks to revive its ailing economy and alleviate tensions among island residents exhausted by months of rolling blackouts.
The goal by 2030 is to generate 24% of total electricity production using renewable sources, up from around 4% currently. That goal includes building 92 solar parks, the government has said, in addition to battery storage facilities, hydro- and wind-generation projects.
“That goal will be achieved before 2030 and the percentage (of renewable generation) may be a little higher,” said Rosell Guerra Campaña, Cuba’s director of renewable energy.
China and Russia have moved to help Cuba out of an energy crisis that has reached a tipping point after the country’s electric grid collapsed four times since October.
Russia has previously committed to helping Cuba modernize three of its oil-fired power plants, along with building a 200-MW plant to bolster the grid.
Cuba and China struck a deal last year in which Beijing agreed to help the island’s Communist-run government boost solar production. Neither country has elaborated on financing details.
China recently said it was donating materials and expertise to build 22 more solar parks across Cuba capable of generating 120 MW, starting this year.
Cuba blames its energy crisis on a Cold War-era U.S. trade embargo and fresh restrictions from U.S. President Donald Trump, who tightened sanctions on the nation and vowed to restore a “tough” policy toward the longtime U.S. foe.
Solar dominates project queues through 2028, said data from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Solar now represents 10.53% of total available installed generating capacity in the United States, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Solar capacity is approaching that of its renewable energy counterpart in wind, which is now 11.77% of available capacity, and is expected to surpass it in the coming years. Hydrocarbon based power remains dominant on U.S. grids, with nearly 43% of capacity attributed to natural gas and 15% to coal. Hydropower contributes 7.6% of U.S. capacity, said FERC.
Despite natural gas dominance in existing power, solar energy leads the way for the present and future of installations. In January 2025, 2,950 MW was installed, compared to 60 MW of natural gas.
Looking ahead FERC tracks 89 GW of high-probability capacity additions from solar through January 2028, compared with 16 GW for natural gas. What’s more, FERC expects nearly 16 GW of natural gas retirements over the same period. Notably, nearly 25 GW of coal is also expected to be retired through January 2028, highlighting the shift toward emissions-free sources of power.
Kevin Wen is one of a growing number of Australians with rooftop solar who have decided the economics of installing a battery storage system finally stack up.
In 2022, Mr Wen was getting about 15 cents per kilowatt-hour for exporting his excess energy back into the grid.
“Then they lowered the buyback price to 8 cents, and then 5 cents, and then 3 cents now,” Mr Wen tells ABC News.
“I just think it’s a scam, so now I would like to use my energy for myself.”
Kevin Wen has installed a battery at his Sydney home after falling solar feed-in tariffs. (ABC News: John Gunn)
He’s far from alone. About 75,000 battery storage systems were installed across Australia last year — up 47 per cent from 2023.
That brings the total of home battery storage systems across the country to more than 320,000, according to solar energy consultancy SunWiz.
Chris Williams, CEO of Natural Solar, a company that now installs about 100 batteries a week, says the reduction in solar feed-in tariffs has been a tipping point for many of his customers.
“Solar feed-in tariffs, effectively, are a rate that the household will receive when power is sent back to the grid during the day from your solar panels,” Mr Williams says.
“Now, that rate, historically, may have been 15 cents or 20 cents per kilowatt-hour fed back to the grid.
“What we’re seeing today, that might be as low as, you know, 2 or 3 cents in New South Wales, in Victoria, it might be as low as, you know, less than 1 cent.”
Solar tariffs have also been as high as 60 cents per kilowatt-hour in Victoria, while New South Wales also offered generous incentives for the solar power people used themselves.
In certain circumstances, Mr Williams says, nowadays households will actually be charged for sending power back to the grid.
“Instead of making money, they’ll actually have to pay a fee to send that power back.”
Mr Williams’s business has received 250 per cent more battery enquiries since the regulated price increases were announced just last week.
“Consumers and households are very sensitive at this point in time, particularly on the back of the cost-of-living crisis we’re in, when they see that their power price is going to go up.”
Solar installs dwarf battery take-up
Households can save about $1,500 a year on power bills with rooftop solar, and another $1,000 with battery storage, according to the Smart Energy Council.
More than 4 million Australian households and businesses have rooftop solar but, despite the additional savings, only about one in 12 have battery storage.
The high purchase price of batteries has been a barrier for many.
“Batteries are, on average, around about $10,000 per system.
“We have seen prices come down year-on-year by between 5 and 10 per cent and we do expect that trend to continue,” Mr Williams says.
“The average battery should have a return on investment between six to eight years before subsidies — including subsidies, that may be as little as five to seven years for the average household.”
Solar energy consultancy SunWiz has crunched the numbers on how long it takes to make your money back on a combined solar and battery system.
The “payback time” now sits at about 8.3 years, which includes a mix of subsidised and non-subsidised systems.
Battery subsidies are currently only available through the New South Wales and the Northern Territory governments.
Other jurisdictions — like Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT — offer interest-free loans for batteries.
As the federal budget and election loom, there are calls for a national government subsidy, similar to the existing scheme for rooftop solar, to further reduce the cost of batteries.
“Solar energy, of course, doesn’t work at night-time, so what we want is a battery booster scheme that helps people take the energy from the middle of the day and use it in the evening when they’re home from work and school,” Smart Energy Council CEO John Grimes tells ABC News.
The Smart Energy Council, a peak body for the renewable energy industry, is calling for a national subsidy of $350 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
In layman’s terms, that would reduce the cost of a small 5kWh battery to about $3,000, or $7,000 for a larger 10kWh battery.
Mr Grimes says battery storage systems would allow households to avoid higher prices when cheaper solar energy is unavailable.
“What solar batteries do is, they time-shift energy from the middle of the day, when it’s super-cheap, to make that super-cheap energy available at night-time, when prices spike,” Mr Grimes says.
Modelling by the Smart Energy Council shows that if Australia reaches 1 million solar batteries by 2030, households will save more than $19 billion.
“There’s a saving not just for the householder, but for the whole community. That’s because we’re taking pressure off when electricity prices are high.
“The more solar batteries we can install, the more money we save, the more we save individuals and the more we help the environment.”
Other renewable energy industry groups, including the Clean Energy Council, are calling for a national rebate for batteries of up to $6,500.
Former RBA deputy backs battery subsidy calls
Last year, the centrepiece of the federal budget was the $3.5 billion in energy bill relief for households, which amounted to a $300 rebate for households and $325 for small businesses.
Those rebates not only reduced household power bills but worked to bring down inflation.
Former RBA deputy governor Guy Debelle argues there is a better way to shield households from energy price inflation, which is subject to global shocks such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The former central banker, who also spent a period at Fortescue Future Industries, says instead of bill rebates, money should be spent on subsidies for batteries and increased incentives for bringing down the cost of solar.
“The relief to household budgets is only temporary, while they’re receiving those cash payments.
“You could repurpose that money to provide them with the opportunity to get rooftop solar and batteries to provide much more long-lasting insulation from energy prices.”
Mr Debelle says those incentives should also target low-income households, strata buildings and landlords.
“Sun isn’t subject to geopolitics, so it’s not going to be affected by Russia invading Ukraine,” he says.
Kevin Wen is glad he’ll be less reliant on the grid and therefore less exposed to price spikes.
Mr Wen was able to get $2,000 off the cost of his home battery storage system under the NSW government scheme, but says higher subsidies would encourage more people to take up solar and batteries.
“If they want to promote green energy, it is really good to increase the subsidies right now … If they can increase it, that will be great for everyone.”
Energy experts spoken to for this story say increased subsidies, not loans, will be the best way to increase the uptake of solar batteries.
A spokesperson for the federal minister for climate change and energy Chris Bowen said in a statement:
“The government is always looking for ways to ease household budget pressure.
“Through our Household Energy Upgrades Fund, we’re providing $1 billion to help Australian home owners lower their energy bills through discounted green loans for energy upgrades, such as solar panels and batteries.”
SolarBuzz, in partnership with the Jamaica Renewable Energy Association (JREA), wants to thank you for your patience as we continue our discussions with the Government regarding the recently added Net-billing requirement for the Residential Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Tax Credit. We have heard your frustration especially now that the tax filing deadline has passed, regarding the sudden requirement for a Net-billing license to claim the solar tax credit.
We are working diligently with the relevant authorities to remove or amend this net-billing requirement and expect to reach a viable solution after a series of upcoming meetings in the weeks ahead. We appreciate your patience and will update you the moment we have received final confirmation.
The Jamaica Electricity Act and Self-Generators
Under The Jamaica Electricity Act (2015), self-generators who produce electricity solely for their own consumption—such as homeowners with hybrid solar-and-battery systems—are exempt from requiring a Net-billing license. As long as no power is exported to the grid, these systems are considered self-use only and should not require any additional licensing. The law’s intent is to encourage renewable energy adoption without unnecessary red tape for those who simply use the grid as backup.
Our Commitment to You
We appreciate your continued trust in SolarBuzz, and we promise to keep you informed as soon as there are any official changes. If you have further questions, feel free to reach out to our team.
Natural gas remains by far the largest source of electricity in the country, according to research from clean-energy think tank Ember
Wind and solar energy generated more electricity in the U.S. than coal for the first time last year, according to analysis from clean-energy think tank Ember. The two renewable energy sources accounted for 17% of the country’s power mix while coal fell to a low of 15%, it said.
Solar was the fastest-growing energy source, according to Ember’s analysis of data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, increasing 27% from the year before, while wind rose 7%.
“We’re in a new paradigm,” said Dave Jones, chief analyst at Ember. “Solar did more to meet the rising demand for electricity last year than natural gas. And that’s at odds with the current narrative and expectations going forward, where so much of the discussion has switched towards building more gas plants.”
Ember used terawatt hours of electricity supply data from the EIA to reach its conclusions, including generation from distributed and small-scale solar installations such as those installed on rooftops and commercial and industrial systems.
Natural gas generation increased 3.3% in 2024, according to Ember, and remains by far the largest source of electricity in the U.S., accounting for 43% of the mix.
The analysis comes as the Trump administration is preparing for an upsurge in natural gas production and exports. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told an energy conference in Houston this week that he is pushing for new gas pipelines in places like Alaska and New England, and approving permits to ship natural gas overseas.
“Drill, baby, drill also requires build, baby, build,” he said.
Overall, the U.S. installed 50 gigawatts of new solar capacity in 2024, according to a report this week from the Solar Energy Industries Association, a nonprofit trade group, and consulting firm Wood Mackenzie. This marked a record in new power generation added to the grid in any energy technology in more than two decades.
Solar and storage account for 84% of all new electricity-generating capacity added to the grid last year, the SEIA report said.
Wind and solar have overtaken coal in 24 states, according to Ember, with Illinois the latest to join the ranks in 2024, following Arizona, Colorado, Florida and Maryland in 2023.
California and Nevada both surpassed 30% annual share of solar in their electricity mix for the first time last year (32% and 30%, respectively). California’s battery growth was key to its solar success. It installed 20% more battery capacity than it did solar capacity, which helped it transfer a significant share of its daytime solar to the evening.
Texas installed more solar and battery capacity than even California. Yet the growth of solar was uneven—28 states generated less than 5% of their electricity from solar in 2024, highlighting significant untapped potential—even before adding battery storage.
“It shows that renewables can meet that rise in electricity demand, that solar is able and wind is if it is given the chance,” Jones said. “The fall in battery costs is a gamechanger for how much solar the U.S. electricity grid could integrate in the near future.”
Looking ahead, the global offshore wind industry is poised for a rebound in 2025, with capacity additions expected to reach 19 gigawatts and sector-wide expenditure projected to hit $80 billion, according to research from Rystad Energy. This recovery follows a slowdown at the end of last year, when new installations dropped to approximately 8 GW—2 GW lower than the prior year. A record wave of lease auctions is driving the resurgence, with the world’s largest offshore wind market, mainland China, accounting for 65% of new capacity, Rystad said.
Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) is exploring the possibility of underground power lines as part of a sweeping overhaul to fortify its grid against the growing threat of Category 5 hurricanes.
While the company has long relied on overhead transmission lines, the increasing frequency of stronger hurricanes and other climate-driven disasters has renewed discussions around selective undergrounding to protect critical infrastructure and reduce extended power outages.
At the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce breakfast conversation last Friday, the discussion turned to whether JPS would align with the approach taken by some developed nations and explore the feasibility of underground power lines as part of its infrastructure strategy. Underground power lines typically helps to reduce the risk of wildfires and outages caused by storms.
“An underground system is about 10 times more expensive than an overhead system,” JPS President and CEO Hugh Grant said.
“However, for selective areas, particularly critical infrastructure, it can help to reduce storm-related outages and speed up recovery.”
JPS is conducting feasibility studies to determine where undergrounding would provide the most value, balancing the significant upfront costs with long-term resilience benefits. While full-scale undergrounding isn’t feasible due to cost constraints, Grant noted that high-density commercial zones and essential service hubs could benefit from a more resilient underground system.
“We won’t be able to underground everything, but where it makes sense—such as in high-traffic business districts and areas where rapid restoration is critical—we are looking at the feasibility,” he said.
The undergrounding initiative is just one part of JPS’s broader infrastructure upgrade, which also includes transitioning to hurricane-resistant power poles, reinforcing substations, and enhancing Jamaica’s preparedness for earthquakes.
JPS’s grid-hardening strategy comes in response to Hurricane Beryl, which caused widespread power outages across Jamaica earlier this year. The company acknowledges that its infrastructure is currently built to withstand Category 3 hurricanes, but as storms become more intense, it is now designing for Category 5 conditions.
“We saw the impact that Beryl had, and going forward, we are designing for a Category 5,” Grant said.
A major component of this shift involves replacing wooden utility poles with concrete structures, which offer greater wind resistance and durability. Grant explained that JPS is already making this transition as part of its regular infrastructure upgrades.
“One of the things we are doing right now is moving from wooden structures to concrete poles, which have higher wind resistance and better longevity in extreme weather conditions,” he told the Business Observer in a follow-up interview.
Additionally, JPS is strengthening its substations, many of which are located in coastal areas prone to flooding. The company is also expanding vegetation management programs, as fallen trees and overgrown branches remain a major cause of storm-related outages.
Beyond its internal upgrades, JPS is partnering with developers to ensure that new residential and commercial projects integrate storm-resistant power infrastructure from the start.
“For new developments, we are working with developers to see how we can integrate more resilient infrastructure from the outset. That means pre-installed underground circuits where feasible, reinforced pole structures, and smart grid solutions that allow for faster power restoration after a storm,” Grant said.
While much of JPS’s disaster resilience planning has focused on hurricanes, Grant also highlighted the need to prepare for earthquakes, a less-discussed but serious risk for Jamaica’s power network.
Between August and December last year, the country recorded 11 earthquakes, ranging in magnitude from 2.9 to 6.5, according to The University of the West Indies’ Earthquake Unit.
“When it comes to earthquakes, the type of devastation we’re talking about calls for alignment and joint partnerships across the board,” Grant said. “The power sector, government, military, and telecoms must have a coordinated response plan.”
JPS’s earthquake-readiness plan involves reinforcing transmission towers and substations to withstand seismic shocks, enhancing emergency response protocols to ensure faster power restoration after an earthquake, and securing backup power solutions for critical facilities such as hospitals, water treatment plants, and emergency services.
Although Jamaica’s power grid has automatic shutdown mechanisms in place to protect major infrastructure during an earthquake, Grant warned that significant structural damage could take weeks to repair. As a result, JPS is prioritising reinforcement of critical infrastructure, particularly in urban centers where power restoration is most critical.
“Unlike hurricanes, earthquakes happen with no warning. So our approach has to be proactive rather than reactive,” Grant emphasised.
With 14,000 kilometres of distribution lines and 3,000 kilometres of transmission lines, upgrading Jamaica’s power grid is a massive undertaking. Grant acknowledged concerns about how these improvements will be financed without placing an additional burden on consumers.
“This is not an overnight fix,” he admitted. “With the scale of infrastructure we are working with, this is a multi-year, phased approach. We have to prioritise key areas first, then expand as funding allows.”
JPS is working to secure funding through multiple channels to avoid sharp increases in electricity rates. These include public-private partnerships with developers, government-backed infrastructure initiatives, and international climate resilience funding.
Grant noted that while these upgrades will require significant capital investments, they are expected to reduce long-term operational costs, ultimately saving money by minimising storm damage and cutting outage restoration times.
“We are balancing the need for resilience with ensuring energy remains affordable,” he said. “If we execute this correctly, these investments will save us money in the long run—by reducing storm damage costs, cutting outage durations, and improving overall efficiency.”
BEIJING, Feb 27 (Reuters) – China’s rapid solar expansion is expected to slow this year for the first time since 2019, as the industry’s growth moderates, according to an industry association forecast on Thursday.
New solar capacity added in 2025 is expected to range from 215 gigawatts (GW) in a conservative scenario to 255 GW in a more optimistic outlook, said Wang Bohua, honorary chairman of the China Photovoltaic Industry Association.
That would be an 8% to 23% drop from record 277.57 GW installations seen last year.
Wang attributed the expected slowdown to 2024’s high base and the introduction of a new power pricing mechanism in June, which will require new renewable plants to sell power on a market basis. This shift is expected to “complicate” future revenue forecasts and increase uncertainty for investors.
Local governments still need to clarify how they plan to implement the new policy – meaning there will be a wait-and-see period, he said.
Still, rising power consumption driven by electric vehicles, data centers, 5G networks and other emerging industries would continue to support demand for solar, according to Wang.
The head of Jamaica Public Service Company Limited, JPS, had cautioned against the quick adoption of renewable energy into the electricity grid, stating that other areas have experienced power outages in their efforts to switch to renewable sources.
However, a spokesman for renewable energy providers says Jamaica has been too slow in ditching fossil fuels and is calling on the Jamaican government to be more proactive in facilitating the use of solar to power businesses and homes.
JPS President and CEO Hugh Grant expressed support for the adoption of renewable energy into the grid, but warned that it had to be coupled with adequate battery storage to be successful.
“Renewables, independent of energy storage, is not a reliable and resilient solution. We need to have renewables coupled with storage to have a viable solution. Jamaica is an island; we have to ensure that we have a diversified energy mix, and frankly, as part of that mix, we have to think about storage… . That source of energy is something that at any time, in any weather condition, you can call upon and it can respond. Particularly due to the fact that we are here on an island, we don’t have the luxury of not getting it right,” Grant said at a forum hosted by the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce in Kingston.
Grant, a former vice-president of Consolidated Edison Company in New York, emphasised that other countries such as Germany and parts of the United States had made fast transitions to renewables, only to return to fossil fuels shortly afterwards because of constant outages and intermittent power. In New York, the company had to rebuild new transmission lines in record time because they had dismantled the retired fossil plants.
We just have to take a look at it and monitor our pace, learn from others, and move in that direction,” Grant said.
The JPS boss also indicated that renewable energy along with the required battery storage could prove costly.
“If you don’t have the dependency of the grid, the price for the renewable solution, which is the solar plus the batteries, is 50 per cent more than the price” of a gas turbine burning liquefied natural gas. The reality is, you’re going to need renewables and battery size to the appropriate capacity, so you don’t have dependency on the grid,” said the power utility CEO.
However Jason Robinson, vice-president of the Jamaica Renewable Energy Association, says the transition to renewables can be speedier with proper planning, especially from the government.
“I think I respectfully disagree with (Grant),” Robinson told the Financial Gleaner. “I think the cost of utility-scale renewables will continue to fall, and grid reliability can be maintained with effective planning, energy storage, and modern grid technology. That’s happening all over the world and many places that have, had to upgrade their grid to work better with renewables,” he said.
“The real challenge is ensuring that (renewable sources) are built out and managed properly, rather than dismissing renewables as unreliable or too expensive. Grid-scale solar is expensive, but it hasn’t been deployed in a very large enough scale in Jamaica to where we can see the impact on our residential bills,” added Robinson, who heads the renewable company Solar Buzz.
He also wants the Jamaican government to simplify the process of net billing for small businesses and householders, as he says the current approval process can take up to two years.
Net billing allows for financial compensation for excess electricity generated but not utilised.
“Currently, the net billing programme we have is really cumbersome and very difficult to do. Most installers are not applying for net billing because it takes a very long time to get the licence for you to sell back (electricity to the grid),” he said.
Robinson suggests that the government should offer more incentives including low interest loans for businesses to put solar panels on buildings, instead of relying on large scale tenders to grow the renewable energy sector.
Renewables currently make up about 20 per cent of the national power grid. The Jamaican government intends to grow that ratio to 50 per cent.
As Jamaica prepares for the upcoming hurricane season, the potential for extended power outages remains a significant concern. Past hurricanes have left many homes and businesses without electricity for days or even weeks, and the recent impact of Hurricane Beryl highlights the country’s vulnerability. Given this, exploring alternatives to traditional energy sources can offer added resilience, especially in the face of increasingly severe weather events.
JPS Plans for Power Resilience
The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has announced plans to strengthen its grid by undergrounding some of its power lines in an effort to better withstand Category 5 hurricanes. This initiative comes in response to the growing frequency and strength of hurricanes, as seen with the impact of Hurricane Beryl. The current infrastructure, according to JPS, is only capable of handling Category 3 conditions, and these upgrades aim to future-proof the grid against more intense storms.
Solar Energy: A Resilient Alternative
While this move by JPS is a step toward greater grid resilience, it’s important to recognize that the fortification process may lead to higher energy costs for consumers. As the company seeks funding for these upgrades, there is concern that the increased investment in infrastructure may be passed on to customers in the form of higher rates. This makes the decision to invest in renewable energy sources, such as solar power, an increasingly attractive option for those seeking more predictable energy costs.
Economic Advantages and Integration of Solar Solutions
In addition to greater energy security, the Government of Jamaica’s recent Income Tax Credit initiative, which offers up to 30% of the value of a solar system or a maximum of J$1.2 million, adds a financial incentive for those considering solar energy. This initiative can help accelerate the return on investment for solar installations, making it a more viable option for households and businesses looking to reduce their reliance on the grid and manage energy costs more effectively.
There is also a growing interest in integrating solar energy solutions into new developments. Developers and financial institutions are now considering the inclusion of solar power systems in their building designs, which allows homeowners to finance the cost of installation through their mortgage over a 20-30 year period. This approach can make it easier for individuals to transition to solar energy and ensure reliable power supply without the upfront financial burden.
Securing Jamaica’s Energy Future
While JPS’s grid fortification plans are promising, their implementation is likely to take years. As the frequency and intensity of hurricanes continue to rise, it’s becoming increasingly important for Jamaicans to consider alternative energy solutions. Solar power offers a way to ensure energy security, regardless of the timeline for grid upgrades.
In light of these factors, it may be wise for Jamaicans to explore the benefits of solar energy as a way to address both current and future energy needs, while also managing the uncertainty of potential energy rate increases.
Having given the green light to two investors to develop renewable energy plants under its 100-Megawatt project, the Generation Procurement Entity, GPE, indicated that it is preparing a new project round for the tender of another 168MW.
Under its current project, Wigton Energy Limited, one of two successful bidders for the supply of new renewable energy capacity, will proceed with the development of a 49.83MW solar plant.
The facility, to be built in Clarendon, is expected to supply 102,508.28MWh of power, annually.
The other bidder selected by the GPE, under its 100MW project, was SunTerra Energy Jamaica Limited, which will install 50MW of renewable solar power in Trelawny. That company is to build a plant that has annual average guaranteed energy of 117,889.30MWh.
Both companies will develop, own, and operate the respective plants, GPE said in its report on the bids. They were previously shortlisted from among about a dozen candidates.
The energy they produce will be supplied to the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited, JPS, under power-purchase agreements, the GPE report said.
The state body also announced that another tender for 168MW of renewable energy would be launched in the current financial year, that is, by the end of March 2025.
SunTerra, which is owned and headed by a former CEO of the JPS, Emanuel DaRosa, has previously indicated that it plans to invest US$60 million in the development of its solar plant, financed by a mix of debt and equity. The nascent firm, operational since 2022, has been installing solar energy solutions across the Caribbean.
Wigton Energy Limited operates Jamaica’s largest wind energy generating facility, a 62.7MW wind farm complex located in Rose Hill, Manchester. The wind farm currently comprises three plants. When the new Clarendon solar facility is completed, production capacity at Wigton Energy should stand at nearly 113MW. The company said in a statement that it would cement Wigton Energy’s position as the leading renewable energy provider in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean.
The Wigton and Sunterra plants will compete in capacity with the current holder of the title of largest solar farm, Paradise Park, a 51MW facility that operates from Westmoreland.
Wigton Energy CEO Gary Barrow, who is also a former JPS executive, was not immediately available for additional comment. There is yet no indication of how Wigton will finance the build-out of the new facility or what the projected is expected to cost.
