The Renewable Energy Industry in CARIFORUM Countries

RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDER ASSESSMENT

JAMAICA

3.10.2 | REGULATOR

The regulator is the Office of Utilities Regulation. It has oversight for the energy sector including arrangements between RE generators and the electricity utility, and as such, plays an important role in the RE industry. Their scope includes JPS and other IPPs as provisioned in the Electricity Act, 2015 and the Electricity Licence, 2016. Subsequent revisions modernised the laws relating to the generation, transmission, distribution, supply, despatch and use of electricity, and interconnection issues like feed-in tariffs. The OUR’s activities in the RE Sector are guided by the National Energy Policy. The UR’s stakeholder relationships are extrapolated from the other stakeholders. 3.10.3 | FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS The financial institutions in Jamaica are engaged with the other stakeholders. Commercial banks are open to RE requests for loan financing if applications meet the minimum qualifications set out for all loans. i.e. an examination of risks, payback, ability to pay, borrowing ceilings, etc. Loans are therefore approved in the same manner as for all other sectors. The Jamaica National Bank does provide small grants to communities for EE. The overall FI stakeholder relationships are extrapolated from the other stakeholders which interact with them. 3.10.4 | PRIVATE SECTOR INSTITUTIONS Based on available documentation, the Jamaica private sector institutions seek to support their membership to become drivers of growth and prosperity for Jamaica. It also includes advocacy, capacity building and the promotion of businesses and opportunities for investment in mutually beneficial ventures. They do possess the capacity and do actively participate in the RE Industry on behalf of Jamaica and its members, particularly the RECs who are members/clients. Direct contact was made with 2 of the key institutions but they declined to participate in the study. The overall PSI stakeholder relationships are extrapolated from the other stakeholders that interact with them. 3.10.5 | HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS The three Tertiary Education Institutions in Jamaica that could potentially provide teaching and training for RE professionals are the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, (UWIMON), the University of Technology (UTECH) and the Human Employment and Resource Training Trust -National Training Authority (HEART-NTA). They are engaged in some RE activities.

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The Renewable Energy Industry in CARIFORUM Countries