Dear Editor,

The Government of Jamaica has made the bold and pivotal decision not to renew the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) licence in 2027 under the current conditions. This opens the door to reimagining and restructuring the electricity sector, with the potential to significantly reduce our current electricity cost, which is among the highest globally.

The Government’s target of achieving 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030 is not only ambitious, but, according to many informed observers, increasingly achievable. However, our success in hitting this target, primarily through solar photovoltaic (PV), could paradoxically expose the grid to instability due to the intermittent nature of solar generation, especially in systems lacking adequate baseload and storage support.

In anticipation of this, the 2023 designation of the Mahogany Vale Dam as a national priority project is both timely and strategic. The project’s pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) solution represents the most mature and scalable form of grid-scale electricity storage. It will play a critical role in balancing supply and demand, especially as solar penetration increases.

My own exposure to this technology dates back to 1985, during my undergraduate studies in electrical engineering, when we had a field trip to the Dinorwig PHES facility in Wales — now over 50 years old and still a cornerstone of the UK’s grid stability. As the UK accelerates its own renewable transition, this system remains essential, underscoring both the longevity and reliability of the technology.

That said, Jamaica must also confront the unavoidable need to modernise its baseload generation. Small modular reactors (SMRs) should be placed firmly on the national agenda. These systems offer a safe, scalable, and carbon-free option, provided they are introduced through a well-structured public education campaign to counter several deeply rooted myths, such as solar power is free, all nuclear power is inherently unsafe, and more renewables mean lower cost electricity.

Over the next two years, robust and transparent public engagement will be crucial. The population must be presented with clear, evidence-based options and their implications. Done properly, this energy transition could realistically lead to a 50 per cent reduction in electricity costs. Done poorly, however, Jamaica risks ending up with the most expensive green energy in the region.

Peter Wright

peterxr600@gmail.com