Angella Rainford, partner in Eight Rivers Energy Company, expects to start operating the largest solar energy plant in Jamaica within a year, having emerged as the top candidate under the 37MW renewable energy project spearheaded by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR).
OUR said on Tuesday that Eight Rivers' proposed 33.1 MW solar project would supply energy to the national grid at about US 8.54 cents per kWh. Eight Rivers plans to invest around US$48.7 million in the plant.
Rainford's company, Rekamniar Frontier Ventures, joined forces with French group Neoen to form the Eight Rivers Energy Company to mount the bid. Eight Rivers emerged as the preferred bid from 19 project proposals received by the OUR to supply up to 37MW of energy.