KINGSTON, Jamaica — Wolmerian engineer and technology serial entrepreneur, Silicon Valley-based Lloyd Carney, has led an initiative to install solar electricity generation across all three Wolmer’s campuses.

In collaboration with Wolmer’s Trust, the system has been commissioned at a cost of US$445,000 with Carney being the major donor with a most generous personal gift of US$323,000.

Lloyd Carney (Photo contributed)

The system produces electricity savings in the order of J$16,000,000 per year.

According to the schools’ Trust, the savings are to be applied to the objective articulated by Carney which is to “make Wolmer’s one of the premier science and technology schools in the world”. This will include investments in Wi-Fi, internet access, science labs, and high-quality teaching methodologies.

Lloyd Carney (centre) on Wolmer’s Campus. (Photo contributed)

The system includes 954 solar panels on rooftops across the boys, girls and prep schools’ roofs, reducing Jamaica Public Service (JPS) electricity consumption substantially. Excess solar electricity generated is sold back to JPS producing additional income.

To further save on electricity, 907 LED lights and 60 variable speed AC units were installed to replace older less efficient ones.

Principal Dwight Pennycooke with smart screens paid from solar savings to equip all labs. (Photo contributed)

Commenting on the donation, Carney who attended Wolmer’s Trust High School for Boys in the 1970s, shared, “Wolmer’s gave me the grounding in science, maths and self-confidence that has been the bedrock of my success in life. I want to give the younger generation of 3,400 students at our three Wolmer’s schools the same solid foundation. The world is changing faster each day. A large cadre of young people immersed in science, technology, engineering and maths is absolutely essential for the future development of our country. Time is not on our side as we are falling behind the developed world. We need to make the moves now.”