Minister Vaz Hails Lasco’s New Solar Energy System as a Beacon of Innovation

• Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Hon. Daryl Vaz, has hailed the investment by LASCO Distributors in a new solar energy system as a beacon of innovation and progress.
• He noted that the project, a welcome addition to the country’s sustainable energy infrastructure, demonstrates how renewable energy can be harnessed to benefit commercial and national objectives.
• “Its completion makes it one of Jamaica’s largest commercial solar and storage projects. Not only will it supply inexpensive, reliable electricity to power LASCO’s operations but also expect it to supply clean electricity and emergency backup power to the neighbouring Central Village Community Centre by a smaller system,” Vaz added.
• He was speaking at a ceremony to celebrate the successful completion of the University of the West Indies/LASCO 500 kilowatt Solar PV and Solar Battery Energy Storage Pilot Project on April 11, at LASCO Distributors’ White Marl plant in St. Catherine.
• The project was undertaken with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Jamaica Energy Resilience Alliance (JERA). The total investment was approximately US$2 million, with LASCO bearing 60 per cent of the cost and USAID covering the remaining 40 per cent.
• The project marks an important milestone for future renewable energy development in Jamaica and the partnership between the US and Caribbean governments to enhance energy security and mitigate climate-change impacts.
• Furthermore, LASCO says the implementation of the system will provide a platform for critical research into commercial-scale batteries for distributive generation.

(Sources: JIS)