US$25m for JPS to outfit streetlights with LED lamps
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved funding to replace existing streetlights in Jamaica with high efficiency light-emitting diode (LED) lamps.
According to the CDB, the funds are being provided to the light and power company — Jamaica Public Service (JPS) — and will facilitate the replacement of approximately 105,000 high pressure sodium and mercury vapour streetlights.
“Jamaica is on track to achieve its renewable energy target of 30 per cent by 2030. However, to do it, the country must reduce its expenditure on imported petroleum products. In 2016, spending on street-lighting was US$20 million per year,” said the regional lending institution.
“Street-lights are a critical national service, as they facilitate personal safety as well as the safe operation of the transportation sector. However, streetlights in Jamaica are the second largest consumer of electricity, representing 15 per cent of total public sector energy consumption. This project is expected to reduce electricity consumption for streetlights by approximately 65 per cent per year. In addition, it is expected that it will significantly contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Jamaica,” said Daniel Best, director of projects at the CDB.
The lamps in existing streetlights have an approximate lifespan of six years, and a failure rate of 20 per cent per year.
The Streetlight Retrofitting Project will include the supply and installation of the high-efficiency LED streetlights and related smart controllers.
The controllers will allow JPS to be aware of, and respond to, streetlight failures in a timely manner.
In addition, a climate risk assessment will be done during implementation, which will assess any vulnerabilities to climate change impacts, and provide recommendations to address them.
The project aligns to the CDB’s Strategic Plan 2015-2019 and Energy Sector Policy and Strategy in which it highlights energy efficiency and renewable energy as priority investment areas for CDB.
This is the fifth street lighting retrofitting project approved by CDB for its Borrowing Member Countries.
CDB says JPS will provide counterpart financing to complete the project, which is scheduled for completion over a period of two-and-a-half years.
