A short while ago I wrote about the Canadian Government’s support for renewable energy in Jamaica. Now, another interesting academic-private sector entity in Canada is teaming up with the Caribbean Energy Solutions Research Institute in Jamaica to expand research, education and training in the field.
Here is the Canadian High Commission’s press release:
April 12, 2017
Canadian support for Jamaica’s energy sector has been further strengthened with the recent signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on March 13, 2017 between Ryerson University’s Centre for Urban Energy (CUE), represented by Dr. Usha George, Vice President, Research and Innovation for CUE and Dr. Gary Jackson, Principal Director of the Jamaica-based Caribbean Energy Solutions Research Institute (CESRI).
The MOU seeks to facilitate collaboration on applied research, education and training projects, in the areas of renewable energy, combined heat and power, energy efficiency, smart energy systems, energy modelling (integrated resource planning), energy project deployment, fuels, clean transportation solutions and technical training related to the energy sector. Both parties also agreed to accommodate exchanges of MSc, MPhil and PhD candidates from across the Caribbean and Canada, in order to unleash and promote a spirit of technological innovation in real-time laboratories. This post-graduate research work will be used to inform energy sector planning in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.
Ryerson’s CUE is a world-class research and innovation centre dedicated to solving energy challenges. It is an academic-industry partnership that is exploring and developing sustainable solutions to urban energy challenges such as the advancement of smart grid technologies, transmission and distribution, micro grids, energy policy, demand management, energy conservation, climate change, energy storage and renewables. CESRI is a research institution (operating under emPCC), which conducts research and provides technical assistance to support energy sector planning within Jamaica and across the Caribbean. Its main aim is conducting joint research, providing education on, and facilitating training programs in energy.
This is the second such arrangement signed by CESRI with a Canadian research institution, as in October 2016, a similar agreement was signed with the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). The High Commission of Canada in Jamaica in association with Global Affairs Canada (GAC) provided logistical support for this technical cooperation initiative from its Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Programme, which seeks to profile and support Canadian research and development partnerships in sustainable development and smart technologies.
Contact: Public Affairs Section, Canadian High Commission
3 West Kings House Road
Kingston 10, Jamaica
Telephone: 733-3253
Petchary's Blog 
Public/Private sector initiative is the best collaboration to advance any economy. Jamaica does need alternative energy sources. Here is another concept site: http://www.lucidenergy.com.
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Thanks, Ken – and I agree with you. It really makes sense for Jamaica. I will check out the link. All the best!
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