Jamaica to launch 300MW renewable-energy auction before year end

Jamaica’s Generation Procurement Entity (GPE) said it now expects to issue its request for proposals (RFP) for the 300 megawatt (MW) renewable-energy and battery-storage auction before year-end.

“The GPE now anticipates publishing the RFP during the fourth quarter of calendar year 2026,” according to a ‘market update’ filed this month from the GPE.

The agency initially expected to launch the auction in the third quarter which ended at September. The GPE is the government agency that runs the bidding for new power plants to supply Jamaica’s electricity grid.

In May, Energy Minister Daryl Vaz told Parliament that the tender was scheduled for August.

The revised publication timeline allows for the completion of procurement documentation, the GPE stated. Also, the incorporation of stakeholder feedback, finalisation of technical and commercial provisions, and the completion of governance and approval processes.

The update confirms the tender will seek up to 300MW of renewable generation and 150MW of battery storage. That is about 36 per cent more generation and about 36 per cent more storage than the 220 megawatts and 110 megawatts in the GPE’s March request for information. Vaz announced the larger targets in May. The initial figures were already described as the largest power tender in the island’s history.

“Following ... the completion of a series of market engagement activities, including stakeholder consultations held during June 2026, the GPE has continued to refine the procurement framework and bidding documents based on stakeholder feedback, technical analyses, policy considerations, and evolving market conditions,” stated the market update.

The GPE attributed the changes to consultations held in June with developers, lenders, technology providers and industry groups, along with technical analyses, policy considerations and “evolving market conditions”. It said it has refined the draft power-purchase agreement, technical specifications and bid-evaluation methodology.

The agency also said the battery portion will be technology-neutral, allowing any commercially proven storage technology that meets technical requirements to compete.

The tender is central to Jamaica’s goal of getting half its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Renewable capacity stood at 188 megawatts at the end of 2024. In November 2024, the GPE awarded about 100 megawatts of solar contracts to Wigton Energy Ltd and Sunterra Energy Jamaica Ltd. Together with the new tender of up to 300 megawatts, that would lift renewable capacity to nearly 590 megawatts, more than half the roughly 1.02-gigawatt grid, though capacity isn’t the same as share of electricity generated.

Gary Barrow, head of Wigton, was contacted for comment on whether the company will bid. He hadn’t responded by publication time.

Prospective bidders have been told to watch the GPE’s website for announcements on the RFP, the procurement schedule and bidder conferences.

business@gleanerjm.com