A US$4-million energy security investment that will see the installation of 6,368 rooftop solar panels across six hospitals and 16 Government facilities will save 5 million kWh annually.

This was stated by the Custos of Kingston, Steadman Fuller on Thursday as he delivered the 2025 Throne Speech to mark the start of the new parliamentary year.

Fuller said Jamaica will become the first Small Island Developing State in the Caribbean with a UNESCO GO-SPIN Science, Technology, and Innovation (ST&I) country profile, which will guide the National ST&I Policy.

He also noted that the Nurturing Early Scientific Thinking (NEST) initiative is equipping early childhood educators with STEM kits and activity books.

Fuller also pointed to the public transportation sector which saw a J$3-billion investment in 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, including 10 buses for persons with disabilities, reducing costs and supporting clean energy goals. This will bring the total investment in improving this mode of public transport to 250 buses in 24 months.

The custos highlighted that in renewable energy, the UHWI Deep Energy Retrofit Project installed 1,500 rooftop solar panels, saving 1.5 million kWh annually, while the recent award of 100 MW of renewable energy projects moved Jamaica closer to 50 per cent renewables by 2030.

He cited that the memorandum with the Canadian Nuclear Laboratory will explore nuclear energy integration.