KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – State Minister for Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Julian Robinson, has welcomed the installation of renewable energy and energy efficient infrastructure at three locations across the island, which is already realising significant savings from facilities.

The energy systems, inclusive of solar panels and wind turbines, have been installed at the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) marine laboratories in Port Royal, Kingston and Discovery Bay, St Ann; and also at the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park.

They were provided at a cost of over J$23 million (US$200,000) under the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project (REEEP), which involves partnership with the United States Department of the Interior’s International Technical Assistance Programme (USDoI-ITAP).

The projects are already bearing fruit since their implementation over the past

12 months, with UWI reporting a 95 per cent reduction in public electricity demand at the Port Royal laboratory, equating to monthly savings of approximately J$59,405 (US$900).

Additionally, there is a 36 per cent reduction in costs at Discovery Bay, with monthly savings averaging approximately J$83,167 (US$700), while at the National Park, there has been a substantial reduction in the percentage electricity accessed from public supply, among other positives.

Speaking at Monday’s commissioning of facilities at the Port Royal Marine Lab, Robinson hailed the projects as a commitment to energy diversification, and reducing costs.He said the undertaking “also supports the strategies of the Government (of Jamaica) to diversify our energy portfolio and reduce electricity prices. By doing so, we intend to achieve greater economic growth through investments and increased business competitiveness.”