Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter

Want to be your own electricity company and gain independence from spiralling light bills?

That was the question posed by a solar energy engineer presenting yesterday on the second and final day of the Jamaica Institute of Engineers (JIE) annual conference held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston. Energy is the focus for this year's conference.

Just as long as you do not mind paying $1.26 million to power a three-bedroom town house and waiting 10 years for a return on your investment, but this should be no deterrent, believes Richard Osborne, support engineer for Automatic Control Engineering Limited.

"There are ... a lot of people going into PV (photovoltaic or solar power) who treat it as a hobby," he said. "If you can recoup your capital from an economic point of view, presuming you have that money, it makes sense."

It was for some, he acknowledged, a feeling of self-sufficiency. And with rising oil costs, from which 91 per cent of Jamaica's electricity is generated, continuing to spiral, it could make for an even more attractive investment, he reasoned.

However, as a consumer you will need to further balance the positives with the negatives.

Take advantage

One positive is that you can take advantage of Government's soon-to-launch revolving loan National Energy Fund which finances renewable and energy efficient measures. You will be able to greatly reduce your light bill. Additionally, you will have power when your neighbours don't; during a power outage, for example, after a hurricane.

Jamaica also has year-round sun, something not enjoyed in countries like Germany and Japan, which have recorded some of the greatest take-ups in PV usage.

You will also be able to sell power to the national grid under the Office of Utilities Regulation's (OUR) net billing guidelines.

- ross.sheil@gleanerjm.com.