Review of and Update to Jamaica’s National Energy Policy

Econoler was part of a team mandated to assist the Government of Jamaica in developing updated energy efficiency and conservation sections of its National Energy Policy (NEP) and its supporting Sub-Policies. The major goals of the new policies are to increase energy efficiency, reduce energy costs, support diversification, develop renewable energy and other indigenous energy sources, and reduce the energy intensity of the country while protecting the environment. Key aspects of the National Energy Policy development include Vision 2030, which envisions Jamaica as a developed country by 2030.

The NEP also contains strategies for the diversification of energy supply, including the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and biofuels as well as waste-to-energy technologies with escalating targets to 2030 and 2050 to reduce dependency on diesel generation. The policies also emphasize energy efficiency and conservation measures to reduce energy demand and reliance on imported fuels. 

The work included support for sub-policies, including a Carbon Emissions Trading Policy, a National Renewable Energy Policy, a National Energy from Waste Policy, and Biofuels Policy.

This mandate included conducting the necessary research and contributing to the development of the relevant sections on energy efficiency and conservation of the National Energy Policy (NEP) and Electricity Sub-Policy.

Under this mandate, Econoler assessed the current state of energy efficiency and conservation policies and activities in Jamaica in the residential, commercial, industrial sectors as well as for the public sector. Econoler also reviewed energy efficiency-related activities and opportunities in the construction, housing, tourism industry, mining, agriculture/sugar, and other relevant sectors. The assessment served to identify the barriers that were holding back progress toward the country’s energy intensity target. Based on the results of that assessment, Econoler developed a proposed list of policies that could accelerate progress on energy efficiency and conservation in different consumer groups and major sectors of the economy.

Based on Econoler’s experience, the team also identified approaches that had worked in other countries to increase the adoption of energy efficiency and conservation practices and equipment and how the approaches could be applied to increase the chance of successful adoption of the practices in the country. The identified approaches were incorporated into an action plan that the government could consider to implement the policy recommendations on energy efficiency and conservation.