WRB Enterprises (WRB) and Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) of paving the way for JPS purchasing energy from the Content Solar Limited, WRB’s Jamaican project company. The company will deliver 20MW of solar power to the Jamaican grid under the 20-year agreement.
Approximately US$60 million will be spent to construct the 20 MW (ac) PV generation project that will see 98,000 panels installed in Content Village, Clarendon Parrish. “This will be the largest photovoltaic installation in the English-speaking Caribbean,” said Bob Blanchard, WRB’s President & CEO.
“The Content Solar project should save Jamaica the importation of more than 8.5 million gallons of fuel per year. This is equivalent to approximately $170 million USD of foreign exchange over the 20-year term of the PPA,” according to Robert Blenker, Vice President Renewable Energy of WRB and Director of Content Solar Limited.
It is expected that the project will create between 30 to 60 new jobs during construction, which will commence in October. Commissioning is scheduled for September 2015.