Dennis Minott | Jamaica’s headlong rush into SMRs quagmire: Wisdom, please!

Jamaica stands at a critical crossroads. As global climate change accelerates and energy needs evolve, the country must make strategic decisions about its energy future. However, the proposed adoption of small modular reactors (SMRs) represents not progress, but a reckless leap into a technical, financial, and environmental quagmire. Instead of billion-dollar experiments that enrich a select few at great national risk, Jamaica must embrace renewable solutions such as solar energy that promise sustainability, affordability, and resilience.

The promoters of SMRs prioritise personal gain over public good. The allure of SMRs lies not in their practicality or proven efficacy but in the financial and political rewards for their promoters. Behind the glossy marketing campaigns and promises of mysteriously “clean” energy independence lies a complex web of vested interests designed to benefit individuals over nations.

SMR promoters often have financial stakes in companies that design, construct, or supply these reactors. These promoters lobby governments aggressively, securing public funds, subsidies, and favourable policies while positioning themselves as gatekeepers to a supposedly advanced energy future. The result? Lavish consulting fees, lucrative service contracts, and inflated buyouts, regardless of whether the reactors deliver as advertised. This economic model ensures personal enrichment while placing the financial burden of failures squarely on taxpayers.

Moreover, the promise of future success —”selling the dream”— allows SMR advocates to perpetuate their schemes. This dream, however, is fraught with unanswered questions about cost, safety, waste management, and technological viability. SMRs, far from being a climate-friendly solution, expose small island states like Jamaica to grave economic and environmental risks.

SOLAR RENEWABLE ENERGY

Contrasting sharply with the speculative nature of SMRs is the transformative potential of solar renewable energy. In just a decade, solar energy’s share of global electricity generation has risen tenfold, supported by plummeting costs and widespread adoption. For countries such as Jamaica, solar power offers a pathway to energy independence that aligns with environmental stewardship and economic resilience.

Solar solutions are already revolutionising farming and other industries worldwide. Agrivoltaics, the combination of solar power generation with crop cultivation, provides shade for heat-sensitive plants, improving yields while generating clean energy. Similarly, livestock benefit from shaded grazing areas under solar panels, enhancing productivity while offsetting greenhouse gas emissions. These innovative approaches demonstrate how solar energy can address multiple challenges simultaneously, creating a win-win for communities and the environment.

Additionally, solar installations can double as water-collection systems, addressing critical water-management issues in drought-prone areas. Solar farms, which some critics dismiss as ‘wasted land’, can be transformed into vibrant ecosystems that support pollinator habitats, improving biodiversity and agricultural outputs. Beyond environmental benefits, solar energy diversifies income streams for farmers and other stakeholders, reducing reliance on volatile agricultural yields and strengthening local economies.

Critics of solar energy argue that it cannot support industrial and commercial operations or that it burdens nations with higher costs and reduced jobs. These claims, while persistent, fail to withstand scrutiny in the Jamaican context.

First, the assertion that solar energy is unsuited for industrial applications ignores global examples of its success. From solar-powered factories to renewable energy microgrids, technology has advanced far beyond small-scale rooftop installations. Countries worldwide are leveraging solar to power large-scale operations, proving its viability as a backbone for industrial energy needs.

Second, the claim that solar energy leads to higher costs fails to account for the plummeting price of solar renewable technologies. Solar power now represents one of the most cost-effective energy sources globally, with installation and maintenance costs continuing to decline. Additionally, solar investments create jobs across diverse sectors—from manufacturing and installation to maintenance and energy management — fostering economic growth rather than stifling it.

Finally, the suggestion that solar requires ‘lots of land’ overlooks innovative designs that maximise land-use efficiency. Rooftop solar installations, agrivoltaics, and floating solar farms exemplify how solar energy can thrive in spatially constrained environments. For a nation such as Jamaica, with abundant sunlight and pressing energy needs, these solutions offer practical and scalable alternatives to fossil fuels and nuclear power.

QUESTIONABLE

Small modular reactors are marketed as a cutting-edge solution, but their appropriateness for Jamaica’s energy landscape is questionable at best. SMRs are unproven at scale, and their adoption could saddle Jamaica with decades of financial, environmental, and safety risks.

First, the initial costs of SMRs are prohibitively high, demanding significant public investment. These funds could be better allocated to proven renewable energy projects that deliver immediate and measurable benefits. Second, the issue of nuclear waste – a perennial challenge for all nuclear technologies – remains unresolved. For an island nation, the risks of storage, transportation, and potential contamination are amplified.

Moreover, SMRs’ supposed ‘clean energy’ label is misleading. While they produce fewer carbon emissions than coal or oil, their lifecycle emissions — including mining and processing uranium, construction, and waste management — are far from negligible. When compared to solar, farmed biomass, or wind power, the environmental footprint of SMRs is significantly larger.

Jamaica’s energy future should not be dictated by the self-serving interests of SMR promoters or the allure of speculative technologies. Instead, the country must prioritise investments in renewable energy solutions that align with its economic, environmental, and social goals.

By embracing solar energy and other green renewables, Jamaica can:

– Achieve energy independence by reducing reliance on imported fuels and vulnerable supply chains, enhancing national security.

– Foster economic growth by creating jobs, diversifying income streams, and stimulating local industries through renewable energy projects.

– Combat climate change by transitioning to clean green energy sources that minimise greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment for future generations.

– Empower communities by providing affordable and accessible energy solutions that uplift rural and underserved populations.

Jamaica’s journey towards a sustainable energy future is not a matter of technological capability but of political will and visionary leadership. The headlong rush into SMRs must be halted before it becomes an irreversible misstep. Instead, let us harness the power of the sun, the wind, and the ingenuity of our people to build an energy system that truly serves the nation’s interests.

Let 2025 be the year Jamaica firmly commits to a clean, renewable, and equitable energy future. Let it be the year we say no to SMRs and yes to solutions that work for all Jamaicans. The choice is clear — and the time to act is now.

Dennis Minott, PhD, is the CEO of A-QuEST-FAIR. He is a multilingual green resources specialist, a research physicist, and a modest mathematician who worked in the oil and energy sector. Send feedback to a_quest57@yahoo.com or columns@gleanerjm.com.