ST JAMES, Jamaica — The reinstallation of solar panels at Mount Alvernia High School in St James is expected to stimulate students’ interest in renewable energy and the wider fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

That’s according to the school’s principal, Kayon Whyne, who was speaking following the official handover and blessing of 80 bifacial solar panels on Wednesday.

“We promote STEM education and of course you know that parts of the syllabus and the curriculum have renewable energy as a content,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

“The students are able to see, feel and learn from what is here in a practical way,” she said.

The panels, which were initially installed in 2023 through the support of charitable organisations Food For The Poor and USAID, were destroyed during the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

While the inverters and other components of the system remained intact, all 108 panels previously installed on the school’s roof were damaged.

However, with support from Food For The Poor and technical assistance from Solar Buzz, the school has now had the panels replaced.

Rector of Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Monsignor Eremodo Muavesi during the blessing of the new solar panels

“One year after Hurricane Melissa, we have been gifted again with the reinstallation of solar panels through Food for the Poor,” she remarked.

“It means that we will have an electricity bill that is 30 or more per cent below what we used to pay and it is hoped that savings can be put towards the education that we promote at Mount Alvernia High School,” she stated.

Chief executive officer (CEO) of Solar Buzz, Jason Robinson, said the school had benefited considerably from the system before the panels were destroyed and is expected to reap even greater benefits from the upgraded installation.

“From commissioning to October of last year it delivered over $6 million in savings, more money to go towards education.That is an estimated 145 megawatt hours and it kept more than 70 tonnes of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere,” he said.

The installation of the new panels cost approximately US$25,000. Robinson said the upgraded system was also designed to be more resilient than its predecessor.

“What stands on the roof today is not a replacement but an upgrade, 80 bi-facial panels, 50 kilowatts worth 12 per cent more capacity than before, mounted flat on the roof and anchored directly into the concrete slab unracking rated for more than 150 mph winds,” he stated.

The replacement was made possible through Food For The Poor, with the organisation’s country programme manager, Sasha Gaye Shaw, saying it was pleased to assist the school once again.

“Its restoration represents not only an investment in the infrastructure but also a demonstration of resilience, recovery and the power of partnership,” she said.

“The restored solar panels will improve visibility and safety across the school compound while promoting renewable energy and sustainability,” she added.

Shaw explained that Food For The Poor had been working with several institutions across the island following Hurricane Melissa and that, when the organisation contacted Mount Alvernia, the school requested replacement panels.

“This is not the first time that Food for the Poor has supported Mount Alvernia. Our continued involvement reflects our commitment to education and to institutions that play such an important role in shaping the lives of our young people,” she pointed out.

Meanwhile, Whyne said the school was largely back on track following the hurricane, despite the extensive damage sustained.

“In total we lost 14 classrooms and the entire six form block. Since the hurricane the National Education Trust (NET) would have reroofed the grade nine block,” she revealed.

“As a result of that we are able to house all our students comfortably at school and of course the hall is also repurposed for classrooms,” she added.

She said that, despite the progress made, the school had relied on alternative arrangements to ensure that students could continue their education without interruption.

“The Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Catholic Church, across from us, has given the space of three classrooms and sixth formers are able to have classes there,” she said.