Community Solar: Making Clean Energy Accessible to All Jamaicans
Not every Jamaican household can install solar panels. Renters, apartment dwellers, homeowners with shaded or structurally unsuitable roofs, and those who cannot afford an individual system are excluded from the solar revolution under the traditional ownership model. Community solar projects change this equation by allowing multiple participants to share the benefits of a single, centrally located solar installation.
How Community Solar Works
A community solar project is a shared solar array, typically ground-mounted or installed on a commercial building, whose energy output is divided among multiple subscribers. Each subscriber owns or leases a portion of the array and receives credits on their JPS bill corresponding to the energy their share produces. Subscribers do not need panels on their own roof and can participate regardless of their housing situation. The concept is well-established in North America and Europe and is beginning to gain traction in the Caribbean.
Benefits for Jamaican Communities
Community solar addresses the energy equity challenge by making clean energy savings accessible to lower and middle-income Jamaicans who are disproportionately affected by high JPS rates. A household spending a large percentage of income on electricity benefits enormously from even a modest reduction enabled by a community solar subscription. Beyond individual savings, community solar projects create local jobs, reduce strain on the national grid, and contribute to Jamaica's renewable energy targets.
Models for Implementation
Several implementation models work for the Jamaican context. A cooperative model, where community members collectively invest in and own the solar installation, gives participants direct ownership and maximum savings but requires organized community participation. A developer-led model, where a solar company builds and maintains the array and sells subscriptions to community members, requires less community organization but may deliver smaller savings due to the developer's profit margin. A hybrid model, perhaps facilitated by a local credit union or community organization, combines elements of both approaches.
Regulatory and Logistical Challenges
Community solar in Jamaica faces regulatory hurdles that need to be addressed for widespread adoption. The current JPS net billing framework is designed for individual customers generating power at their own premises. Enabling community solar requires regulatory provisions for virtual net billing, where credits from a remote solar installation are applied to subscribers' individual accounts. The Office of Utilities Regulation and the Ministry of Science, Energy, and Technology are the key institutions that must create this regulatory pathway.
The Path Forward
Several pilot community solar projects have been proposed in Jamaica, with interest from development agencies, environmental organizations, and the private sector. As regulatory frameworks evolve and successful pilot projects demonstrate the model, community solar has the potential to dramatically expand solar energy access across the island. If you are part of a community organization, housing development, or cooperative that is interested in exploring community solar, the time to start conversations with solar developers and regulators is now.
