Food for the Poor goes solar

State Minister in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Julian Robinson has praised Food For The Poor's investment in the installation of a 100-kilowatt solar system.

"I am happy that companies like Food For The Poor, which is in the volunteer business, continue to make the investments in alternative energy," the state minister said.

He was speaking at the official commissioning of the system on Thursday at Food For The Poor's headquarters at Ellerslie Pen in Spanish Town, St Catherine.

Robinson said the solar project was in keeping with the Government's focus on the development of renewable energy solutions.

Some US$200 million has been invested in various renewable energy initiatives scheduled to come on stream by the end of 2016.

EXPANSION PROJECT

Among the projects are the US$45 million expansion of the Wigton Wind Farm in Manchester, and development of a 20-megawatt solar plant in York Town, Clarendon, at a cost of US$47 million.

Facilities Manager at Food For The Poor Charles Powell said the US$180,000 investment would allow the charity organisation to save on its electricity bill, therefore, freeing up resources to carry out its work.

"Whatever we will save will put us in a better position to help the less fortunate. That is what Food For The Poor does," he noted.

Installed by Padero Solar Jamaica in July last year, the 100-kilowatt system consists of five inverters, each with a capacity of 20 kilowatts.

"One of the things we would have experienced since we have started to use solar is a much cleaner supply of electricity, manifesting itself in less maintenance," Powell said.

It is expected that Food For The Poor will recover its money in roughly three and a half years. It is the intention of the charity to sell excess energy to the national grid.