JPS is announcing that its Smart LED Streetlight Project, received a major boost last week, with the official signing of a partnership, which will see over US$425,000 or more than J$50 Million, being granted to JPS by the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).  The grant will be used to provide technical support for the project, which will include the conversion of 105,000 streetlights across Jamaica – from the use of traditional High Pressure Sodium bulbs to Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs.  This development will not only be an important aspect of the Company’s energy efficiency drive, but also an underlying component of the smart grid, which JPS is developing to take Jamaica’s electricity network to a more advanced level.

JPS Smart LED Streetlight Project received a major boost last week, with the official signing of a partnership, which will see over US$425,000 or more than J$50Million, being granted to JPS by the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).(Photo courtesy of JPS)

Speaking at the official signing ceremony of the partnership agreement, JPS President & CEO, Kelly Tomblin, noted that the agreement signaled a new round of development for service delivery for the Company.  “When we say we are leading an energy revolution, we mean that in every way.  We are breaking barriers and are taking energy delivery to a level that has never been experienced before in Jamaica.  This is the beginning of a new level of energy efficiency and service for all our stakeholders.”

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Luis Moreno, also expressed his pleasure at this significant step.  Ambassador Moreno noted that given the importance of streetlights and the element of safety that they add to the social environment, he looked forward to full implementation of the programme.  The USTDA’s grant will be used to assist with vendor supply systems, environmental impact assessments and other technical aspects of the project.  

Smart streetlights boast several features, among them automated energy management, as well as near real-time detection and reporting of defects per street lamp.  They can also be switched on, off, dimmed or brightened remotely; facilitate data gathering on aspects of the grid; and have motion sensitivity to passersby and vehicular traffic.

The roll-out of the Smart LED Streetlight project will commence in December 2016.