Maurice Miller | Jamaica’s energy future: Why Portmore should go solar | In Focus

There’s a buzz around nuclear energy in Jamaica, with Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) taking centrestage in recent discussions. A potential investor with ties to a local bank is reportedly eyeing these reactors as a way to generate electricity, particularly for Portmore. The government seems interested, too, having started talks with Canadian experts and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore the possibilities.

But, is nuclear power really the best choice for Jamaica, especially for Portmore, the so-called ‘Sunshine City’?

Let’s break it down.

NUCLEAR PITCH

SMRs are being touted as cleaner and more reliable than traditional power sources, promising a future where blackouts are a thing of the past. On paper, it sounds great – cutting-edge technology powering homes and businesses with the flip of a switch.

However, nuclear power isn’t just about fancy reactors. It’s also about managing nuclear waste – dangerous materials that don’t just disappear when the reactor shuts down. This waste needs to be stored and monitored for hundreds of years, which is a huge responsibility. And let’s not forget Portmore’s challenges with rising sea levels and vulnerabilities to hurricanes. Imagine what could happen if a storage facility were compromised.

RISKS WE CAN’T IGNORE

If something goes wrong with an SMR, who would handle it? Jamaica doesn’t currently have the equipment or expertise to deal with nuclear emergencies. And while nuclear energy promises energy independence, it would actually increase our dependence on foreign technology and expertise.

Portmore’s dense population and its coastal location near the Plantain Garden fault make it an especially risky place for nuclear technology. Why add to our vulnerabilities when we already have a clean, renewable resource shining down on us every day?

NATURAL ADVANTAGE

Portmore is called the ‘Sunshine City’ for a reason – it’s one of the sunniest spots on the island. Why not tap into that endless energy? Advances in solar technology are making it more efficient, affordable, and versatile than ever.

New types of solar panels, like flexible ones that can be used on curved surfaces and bifacial panels that capture sunlight from both sides, are already transforming how we think about solar power. Researchers are even developing solar panels for vehicles and clothing!

And it’s not just about the tech. By prioritising solar, we could build a local industry, creating jobs and boosting the economy. Distributed energy systems – like solar panels on homes and schools or wind farms in strategic locations – could keep energy generation local, cutting down on costs and risks.

WASTE-TO-ENERGY TECHNOLOGY

Nuclear power might seem like a quick fix for Jamaica’s energy issues, but it comes with long-term challenges we’re not equipped to handle. Meanwhile, renewable energy options like waste-to-energy, solar, wind, and biomass are safer, more sustainable, and better suited to our island’s unique strengths.

Jamaica’s garbage dumps, such as Riverton City in Kingston, could be a valuable resource for electricity generation through waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies. Currently, the mature technologies for generating electricity from garbage dumps include Landfill Gas to Energy, Incineration with Energy Recovery, Anaerobic Digestion, and Gasification and Pyrolysis. Unless you are in the industry or doing the research, these words are probably new to you.

These processes convert waste materials into usable energy, helping to manage waste while producing electricity and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. WTE is a mature technology operating in the USA, Sweden, Denmark, Japan, China, Brazil and India. Can you believe that nearly half of Sweden’s household waste is converted into energy, with plants like the Sysav Waste-to-Energy Plant? Do you know that Japan leads in incineration technology, with over 1,000 WTE plants? The Shenzhen East Waste-to-Energy Plant in China is one of the largest globally. This plant is capable of processing over 5,000 tons of waste daily, resulting in the generation of 550 million kWh every year.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

A combined public-private partnership arrangement could result in the installation of a landfill gas capture system to harness methane from our existing dumps. Already advanced modern incinerators would help with pollution control. The government of Jamaica would need to put policies in place to promote waste separation to support anaerobic digestion and reduce non-recyclable materials. Jamaica could attract investments by partnering with countries and companies already experienced in deploying WTE technologies.

Like all technology deployment, there are some things to consider in WTE systems. Building WTE facilities can be expensive. Though modern plants have advanced filters, incineration may still emit pollutants. Finally, an effective WTE operation requires proper waste sorting, which isn’t fully implemented in Jamaica.

Instead of pouring resources into risky nuclear experiments, let’s focus on harnessing the energy from the world’s largest nuclear reactor – the sun. It’s clean, reliable, and already shining down on us, ready to power Jamaica’s future. The Sunshine City should live up to its name – powered by the sun, the most reliable nuclear fusion plant. With the right investments and policies, turning Jamaica’s garbage into electricity could contribute to sustainable energy goals while solving waste management challenges and reducing the health management and social issues associated with uncontrolled fires, especially at the Riverton City dump.

Let’s expand the discussion and focus on the proverbial low-hanging fruit. SMRs in their developmental phase are fruit too high on top of the tree.

Maurice Miller, PhD is a project management professional. Send feedback to [email protected]