ENERGY IS simply the ability to do work. Renewable energy sources (RES) are those that capture their energy from existing flows of energy.

RES sources in Jamaica include sunshine (solar power), wind, flowing water (hydropower) and biological processes.

Wind (20.7 megawatts) and hydro (21.5 MW) generate electricity for the 821 MW national grid.

Solar is used mainly to heat water via solar water heaters and also by photovoltaic units to generate electricity for security lighting, such as at Jamaica House, Hope Road, St. Andrew.

Biological processes (biofuel) will secure the future of the local sugar industry, it is hoped. Produced from sugar cane, ethanol as a fuel additive, is currently the subject of a government trial to form 10 per cent of gasolene. If successful, this could be rolled out nationwide, replacing imported MTBE ­ an additive to gasolene ­ saving Jamaica US$40 million per year.

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OIL ­ THE OLD MAN OR STILL THE FUTURE?

Although some, including head of British Petroleum (BP) John Browne, are predicting a fall in gas prices, governments and energy companies are increasingly looking to renewable sources as the future. BP itself is rebranding itself as 'Beyond Petroleum'.

While oil remains Jamaica's most important energy source ­ and is still viewed as more cost efficient than renewables ­- it is a heavy polluter, a finite natural resource and as our largest import, a heavy burden on our foreign exchange reserves.

Furthermore, its supply and price fluctuate with political instability in oil-producing areas, namely the Middle East.

While the U.S. government has prioritised its energy policy by securing access to reserves, by twice invading Iraq, other governments, particularly in the European Union, are turning to renewables as their best form of security.

Although we need to import the equipment for renewable generation, we do not need to import the resources themselves. Current exploration efforts excepted, Jamaica does not have oil, but we do have renewable resources.

ENERGY FROM CANE AND WASTE MATERIAL

Ethanol currently uses feedstock from Brazilian sugar cane but is expected to use local sugar cane to meet future local demand for ethanol as a fuel additive.

Another aspect of sugar cane is 'co-generation' from the waste that remains after the sugar has been extracted from the cane, called begasse.

This can be burnt providing heat energy used to generate electricity with the process being greenhouse gas neutral.

According to Gibson Energy Ltd., one of the companies bidding to buy the government-owned Sugar Company of Jamaica, begasse, co-generation has the potential to add almost 100 MW to the national grid, which is currently approximately 821 MW in capacity. There is also the potential offered by waste materials, known as biomass. For instance, the Scientific Research Council has installed an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor, at its Hope Road, St. Andrew, headquarters.

Costing $500,000 to construct, it is expected to save $250,000 a year through the electricity it generates from converting waste water into biogas.