Category: News

The Generation Procurement Entity (GPE) has launched the largest renewable energy tender ever undertaken in the Caribbean, comprising 300 Megawatt (MW) of renewables paired with 150 MW of battery storage, with the tender scheduled by August 2026.

This was announced by Minister of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications, Hon. Daryl Vaz, in his contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 5.

He said this builds on the 100 MW of solar capacity awarded in 2024, bringing total new renewable additions to 400 MW.

“Taken together, these investments represent a decisive step towards enhancing energy security, reducing exposure to global oil price volatility, and advancing Jamaica’s transition to a more resilient, sustainable, and diversified energy mix,” Mr. Vaz said.

The GPE was re-established in January 2020 by way of Cabinet decision for the purpose of processing new generating capacity.

In parallel, the Government is advancing an additional 100 MW of distributed renewable energy through a strengthened Net Billing programme, empowering households and businesses to generate their own electricity.

The Minister informed that the Net Billing Programme terms of reference has been completed and is being modernised through the introduction of a fully online application platform, expected to be operational by December 2026.
Mr. Vaz said this platform will support the acceleration of net billing.

Additionally, discussions have started with Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) to increase the net billing threshold and to incorporate battery storage into the programme.

“The Ministry is also reviewing licence fees and system capacity limits of 10 kilowatt for residential and 100 MW for commercial systems with mandated battery storage, including the integration of battery storage, to better support modern energy needs such as electric-vehicle charging,” he stated.

Jamaica currently generates about 15 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources.

“Ongoing and planned projects are expected to add roughly 35 percentage points, helping the country reach its 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030, not only in Jamaica but also the Caribbean,” Mr. Vaz said.

[Retrieved from JIS – May 6, 2026]

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100 MW renewable energy being sought in this latest call

Durrant Pate/Contributor

Jamaica has gone to market for 100 megawatts (MW) of renewable power, as the authorities have divulged the details of its planned Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) being sought through Requests For Proposals (RFP).

The draft PPA term sheet just released by Jamaica’s Generation Procurement Entity (GPE), which issued a call for expressions of interest last month, outlined the process by which the government is seeking to procure PPAs for 100MW of renewable energy on a build, own and operate basis for an initial period of 20 years.

Based on the draft PPA term sheet winners of the bidding process will enter into PPAs with the buyer, the Jamaica Public Service Company. These PPAs are eligible for an extension, subject to approval from the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), which regulates Jamaica’s energy sector.

The term sheet addresses risks, construction security deposits, payment and currency, termination, and force majeure, among other areas. GPE also published the draft term sheet for the RFPs.

Response period extended

In the meantime, the consultation period has been extended to July 7 with the end of the response period being pushed back to July 21 with expressions of interest now due by July 28. The Government of Jamaica back in 2018 increased its renewables target to 50% from 30% by 2030.

In making the declaration at that time, Prime Minister, Andrew Holness said, “we are working even harder to a more ambitious target to reach 50% of our electricity generation being from renewables by 2030. Pushing our energy generation to be 50-50 by 2030; fossil fuels and renewables is in our national security interest, in our survival interest.”

He added that at present pace the previous target of 30% could be achieved by 2020 if the country remains on track in diversifying its energy use.

Source: https://our.today/new-jamaica-ppa-details-disclosed/

GPE’s Tender Documents: https://gpe.gov.jm/tenders/

Brussels – On April 11, the Global Renewable Energy Mass Adoption Programme (GREENMAP) and the Generation Procurement Entity of Jamaica (GPE) have signed a Cooperation Agreement under which GREENMAP will work and give support to GPE to strengthen the design of the National Renewable Energy (RE) procurement programme and the successful implementation of the upcoming auctions.

GREENMAP will cooperate as a transaction adviser with the GPE in the design, deployment and implementation of the country’s RE Procurement Programme.

Jamaica issued a long-awaited call for expressions of interest to supply the island with renewable energy. Jamaica’s energy Minister also mentioned the possibility of adding nuclear energy to the country’s renewable energy mix.

Source: BNAmericas

Cabinet has appointed new leadership for the Generation Procurement Entity (GPE), with a mandate to undertake procurement of new electricity-generation capacity, in accordance with The Electricity Act, 2015.

This was disclosed by Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Hon. Daryl Vaz, during his contribution to the 2021/2022 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 18.

Mr. Vaz noted that the entire energy sector hangs on the work of the GPE and that the review of unsolicited proposals and requests for proposals (RFPs) to the market for new generation must be accorded urgent priority by the GPE.

“We have recruited a Chief Technical Expert to support the GPE and we expect onboarding by July 1, 2021. The GPE has been given the charge to get moving. We want to see a significant increase in our generation capacity and our renewable energy share, based on the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP),” he said.

He added that the IRP envisions 32 per cent of generation and net load in 2030 to be met with renewable mix and 49 per cent of generation by 2037.

The renewable mix resources include solar, wind, hydroelectric, waste to energy and biomass.

The IRP is the electricity roadmap for Jamaica under the period 2018-2037. It describes the preferred resource mix over two decades that meets reliability of service, reduced cost of operations, fuel source diversity, electric grid flexibility and the lowering of the environmental carbon footprint.

Mr. Vaz said to place the work of the GPE in context, the country anticipates US$2.8 billion in investments over the life of the plan, which will serve to modernise the electricity infrastructure, diversify the fuel source and institutionalise energy conservation and efficiency.

“There can be no delay in the work of the GPE to procure additional generation capacity to move the energy agenda forward into a new, bold and brighter future. The Inter-American Development Bank is providing assistance with procurement,” he pointed out.

He added that he is aware of the level of public interest about the delay in reviewing several unsolicited proposals that could not have been acted upon until the GPE was settled.

“The public can expect requests for proposals within six months,” Mr. Vaz said.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Energy Minister Daryl Vaz has advised that the General Procurement Entity [GPE] has been given the mandate to undertake the procurement of new electricity generation capacity in Jamaica.

“The procurement of new investment in the energy sector, to be carried out by the GPE, will be based on the approved Integrated Resource Plan which is a comprehensive decision-making tool and road map for meeting Jamaica’s 20-year electricity grid obligations,” Vaz said during a ministerial statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

The minister said that in light of this mandate, the GPE is at an advanced stage [of discussions] with the Inter-American Development Bank for technical assistance to develop draft rules and protocols for the acquisition of new generation capacity, specifically renewable energy.

Vaz reminded that in his sectoral presentation in May 2021, “I indicated that the public could expect Requests for Proposals within six months.”

“We have experienced some delays but it is anticipated that Requests for Proposals will be in place by the second quarter of the 2022/2023 fiscal year,” he said.

The Jamaica Public Service Company in which the government has a 20 per cent stake is the sole distributor of electricity in Jamaica. It is engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity and also purchases power from a number of independent power producers.