AS Jamaica accelerates its transition to renewable energy, a local solar expert is calling for the Government to establish regulations in the solar energy sector. The appeal comes amidst growing concerns over poor-quality installations, safety issues, and the lack of consumer protection.

“A lot of people know how to install but they don’t know how to design the systems specifically to meet everybody’s needs. That’s the major problem that I have seen in the marketplace,” said Debon Lysight, managing director and CEO of Smart Homes Solutions, in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.

Jamaica aims to generate 50 per cent of its electricity from renewable energy sources for the grid by 2030. In addition to that, the Government has been providing an income tax credit covering 30 per cent of the cost of residential solar photovoltaic systems, up to $4 million, along with solar loans to encourage homeowners to transition. The incentives have been working, as more consumers have been installing solar; however, the surge in demand has led to an influx of solar companies, many of which focus on installation but lack the expertise to design systems tailored to individual needs.

“People need to have accreditation for what they’re doing. There’s nothing wrong with a solar installer, but when it comes to the design and implementation of the system, I don’t think that should be done by anyone who can put up a few panels,” he said.

Lysight, an electrical and computer engineer specialising in power and control in solar energy and who has been designing solar systems and installing them for over 10 years, warns that the industry is far from where it should be. He highlights the risks of installing systems without fully understanding their implementation, which could even endanger local utility linemen. According to Lysight, Jamaican solar installers are not properly trained, particularly regarding panel placement. He shared an example of a client who opted for a cheaper solar system from another company, only to experience the destruction of his roof, requiring Smart Homes Solutions to fix it.

“When the system was finished it couldn’t satisfy the property’s energy needs. Worse, rain would come through the roof due to poor panel placement,” he explained.

He stressed that panel placement is critical and should be tailored to the specific structure of the building — whether concrete, wood, or zinc — and that each type of structure requires its own method of installation. This lack of standardisation, he argues, is why some strata are hesitant to allow solar panels on roofs, as the risks of improper design can lead to long-term damage. So far this year, 25 per cent of the jobs handled by Smart Homes Solutions have been reworks caused by poor installations from other service providers islandwide. While the increasing volume of repair calls may be seen as good business for Smart Homes, Lysight stresses that he prefers returning clients over those seeking fixes for problems that could have been avoided, as additional resources are required to resolve such issues.

“We get calls to fix problems that other solar installers have been having. When we check the problem, it is down to the technicality of the system itself,” he told the
Business Observer. “Now, you have to be changing all people’s wires out of their homes that would have been there since that house was built.”

The issue is further exacerbated by some solar companies promising unrealistic results. Customers are often told that a solar system will take them completely off the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) electric grid, but after installation they find themselves still facing high electricity bills. The problem, Lysight explains, lies in the design of the system.

“You can’t just install 10 panels, one battery, and one inverter, and expect to eliminate 100 per cent of your light bill. Nothing goes like that,” he stressed.

He said while the market becoming oversaturated with solar installers is a good thing in terms of reducing the price of solar installations, it also has its drawbacks as people are often getting systems that are not optimal as a result. These systems are substandard and fail to adhere to any guidelines because there are none.

“Any old system that you can get for this amount of money is what you will get. It’s like a one-size-fits-all if you ask me,” he said.

In other countries where regulation exists, the whole sector is actually much better because everyone works within standards. Countries like the UK have implemented standards such as G98 and G99, which regulate small- and large-scale generator connections to the grid, prioritising safety, grid stability, and efficiency. Similarly, the US employs IEEE 1547, while the EU uses harmonised codes to address these challenges. Lysight is calling for a similar approach to be taken locally.

“If we can get people to be accredited to do certain things, and then people know that if you’re going to use X and B solar company, ‘Do they have the necessary accreditation?’ ‘Who is doing this design?’, ‘Do they have an engineering team that is qualified to do this design?’, ‘What are they trying to achieve?’ ” he cited as questions to be asked by consumers.

Smart Homes Solutions is now working with HEART/NSTA Trust to develop training for smart technicians. He explained that the initiative focuses on teaching skills for integrating smart technologies, such as 2.4 GHz smart switches and voice automation. According to Lysight, a course for smart technicians is set to launch soon, with the goal of providing structured training for the Caribbean, not just Jamaica. He likened the programme to existing electrician certifications, with a level one and level two track for smart technicians.

“It is the worst thing to be seeing a customer out there that is losing after spending millions of dollars. It is heartbreaking, actually. You shouldn’t be losing after spending millions of dollars,” he said.