Some Jamaicans and persons in the wider Caribbean and the Eastern United States are still picking up the pieces, following the passage of Hurricane Sandy in
Charlene Stuart, Senior Staff Reporter
Lobby group, Citizens United to Reduce the cost of Electricity (CURE), wants the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), to say why it is suspending the non-competitive process for the generation of renewable based electricity.
The electricity generated would be sold to the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS).
The OUR made the announcement yesterday in a paid advertisement, indicating that the new measures take immediate effect.
The OUR has suspended the processing of non-competitive proposals for the generation of up to 25 megawatts of electricity from renewable energy sources.
The OUR said the suspension will remain until the completion of a competitive tender exercise to procure up to 115 mega Watts of power.
CURE
INVESTORS wanting to build out renewable energy capacity in the latest round of investments in Jamaica will have to do so by early 2015.
Up to 115 megawatts (MW) are up for grabs.
|
|
Those who are interested to make bids will have to declare that to the Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR) by December 21.
But the request for proposal documents has set tariff caps, which could make investments in certain types of renewables lucrative, but could also mean higher electricity prices to consumers.
What’s more, even with the seemingly fast pace at which the regulator is pushing for renewables to come online
INVESTORS wanting to build out renewable energy capacity in the latest round of investments in Jamaica will have to do so by early 2015.
Up to 115 megawatts (MW) are up for grabs.
|
|
Those who are interested to make bids will have to declare that to the Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR) by December 21.
But the request for proposal documents has set tariff caps, which could make investments in certain types of renewables lucrative, but could also mean higher electricity prices to consumers.
What’s more, even with the seemingly fast pace at which the regulator is pushing for renewables to come online
Chairman Paul Scott (left) and Managing Director Byron Thompson are seen here at Seprod Limited’s annual general meeting held at Wyndham Kingston hotel in New Kingston, on Monday, August 20. – Rudolph Brown/Photographer
Marcella Scarlett,
The Dominica government says it is pleased with the developments within the geothermal energy sector and has assured nationals that they could expect at least a 40 per cent reduction in electricity bills within the coming months.
Energy Minister Rayburn Blackmore told Parliament on Thursday night that the Roosevelt Skerrit administration is considering building a 10-15 megawatt plant in the near future as the island seeks to develop alternative sources of energy, describing the geothermal sector as a success story.
We are committed therefore to adding to our energy portfolio, geothermal energy. Already we have 40 per cent hydro and 70 per cent fossil fuel, he told legislators as debate on the national budget continued here.
He said the Skerrit administration during this fiscal term will construct a small plant of 10 to 15 megawatts to deal with our local supply in Dominica to ensure that we lower the price of electricity for poor people in Dominica.
We have done a case study and looked at all the variables in so far as a 10-15 megawatt plant is concerned and we are seeing we can realise a savings of 40 per cent on our light bills and with foreign exchange and benefits of over US$6 million.
He told legislators to think about the bigger possibilities of the expansion that could give to our economy (as well as) the new industries that can be created in Dominica and the prospects for employment in this country, he said, noting that the authorities had already gone through the process of drilling three test wells.
The possibilities look good, he emphasised.
Last year, government signed an EC$17 million (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) for the exploration of geothermal energy in the Roseau Valley and earlier this year Blackmore said that the requisite test is being done to give us a sense as to whether energy can be produced from that well if it were to be converted to a production well.
CMC
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120723/business/business3.html
RESEARCH CONDUCTED by a University of the West Indies energy think tank indicates that coal is the most efficient energy source in powering a light bulb.
Arguing that given the current inefficiencies in the electricity production and distribution system, it takes approximately two barrels of oil to keep a 100-watt light bulb burning continuously for a year, the think tank said using coal-generated energy to do the same job would reduce the cost significantly.
“Using LNG instead of oil would cost roughly half the amount to burn the light bulb, and using coal would be about one-seventh the cost,” the group said.
The think tank said using current prices, it would cost US$178.70 to purchase two barrels of oil to power the incandescent bulb. It said if coal were to be utilised to do a similar job, it would take only 396 kilograms (871lb) of the product at a cost of US$23.8, or 13 per cent of the cost of oil. The think tank also said liquefied natural gas (LNG) would be a more expensive option to coal. The researchers argue that it would require 333 litres of LNG to power the same 100-watt bulb, which would cost US$83.3, or 47 per cent of the cost of oil.
See full column http://gleaner-ja.com/gleaner/20120423/news/news2.html.
‘Using LNG instead of oil would cost roughly half the amount to burn the light bulb, and using coal would be about one-seventh the cost.’
About 871lb of coal is needed to power a 100-watt light bulb for 12 months.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120423/lead/lead2.html
