The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) in partnership with The UWI hosted an 'Energy Tour' on February 7, 2023 for members of The Royal Society in attendance at the Commonwealth Science Conference hosted at the Jamica Pegasus Hotel. The participants visited two JPS sites: The South Jamaica Power Centre (SJPC) and JPS Systems Operations with the aims of exploring Jamaica's energy resilient systems to include the use of alternative fuels, integration of renewable energy and innovative energy storage, employing data science and analytics in operational and emergency management etc.

The South Jamaica Power Centre (SJPC) Combined Cycle Power Plant is a 195 MW facility with a 3 × 3 × 1 configuration – 3 Gas Turbines, 3 Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSGs), 1 Steam Turbine Generator. The plant is dual fuel, with natural gas as a primary fuel and automotive diesel oil (ADO) as the back up fuel. SJPC is the largest and most efficient fuel burning power plant in Jamaica, with the capacity to power three hundred thousand (300,000) homes.The new technology will better facilitate the integration of more renewables on the grid. More renewables and improved technology will lower generation costs, as well as Jamaica’s exposure to the volatility in the world oil prices. The plant is playing a critical role in improving the nation’s power supply reliability.

Systems Operations manages all areas of the national grid – from power generation and transmission, to the distribution of electricity to our customers. Through our creative team of power engineers, we use smarter technologies to ensure the safe, secure, reliable, and economic operation of the Jamaica power grid. JPS Systems Operations has been recognized on the global stage as a trendsetter for operational excellence.

Photo caption: Members of the Royal Society touring the South Jamaica Power Company (SJPC) on the occassion of the Commonwealth Science Conference, February 7-9, 2023.

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