Jamaica’s government has received an unsolicited proposal from a consortium of local and international companies for a pumped storage hydroelectric and water electric power project, according to BNamericas.
During his 2022 budget presentation, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness told legislators that the proposal is “undergoing technical and due diligence reviews.” Subject to satisfactory completion of those reviews, the government plans to designate the project as a Jamaica 60 National Development Project and enter into direct negotiation with the consortium in order to fast track implementation, Holness said.
The names of the companies submitting the proposal were not disclosed.
The project entails pumping water from the Middlesex Aquifer in St Ann Parish into reservoirs at high elevations using solar power. The water would then be gravity fed into turbines and channeled for residential and irrigation use.
BNamericas previously reported on the Caribbean nation’s plan for such a system to help guarantee water supply and contribute to decarbonization. The project would generate up to 200 MWh annually, and Holness said the system would help Jamaica achieve its revised target of having renewables account for 50% of its generation portfolio by 2030.
Holness said that renewables currently account for 13% of Jamaica’s energy generation mix, while the country’s stated target for renewables is 30% by 2030. The pumped storage hydro electric and water systems project along with other proposals on the table could move our renewables portion to around 50%, and reduce the threat of economic shocks caused by fossil fuel price fluctuations, Holness added.
According to the prime minister, a 10% drop in imported oil could save Jamaica close to $150 million annually. The country’s energy system is highly dependent on imported fossil fuels.
