PRELIMINARY ENERGY SECTOR ASSESSMENTS OF JAMAICA, V. 3, RENEWABLE ENERGY : SOLAR ENERGY, AGRICULTURAL

Technological studies were published in three volumes (with volume three being in four parts, for a total of six volumes), to which two introductory volumes were added, providing, respectively, an executive summary of the entire assessment and an economic assessment of the individual areas. This study, part two of volume three, is concerned with the use of solar heat for drying agricultural products (crops, timber, and fish). The study finds that Jamaica has an ideal climate for solar agricultural product drying with the following methods offering the greatest promise: sun drying using open barbeques; drying in transparent buildings (with or without attached collectors) for small operations; new drying systems using solar air heaters with forced air drying; preheating air for existing commercial fossil-fueled dryers; and fish drying via chemical dehydration with solar regeneration of the chemical. The primary needs are to develop and construct environmentally suitable solar dryers and to train engineers in solar system design and installation. Specific recommendations include establishment of 10 climatic stations to record solar radiation and ambient temperatures; development of air-type solar collectors; research and development on agricultural product drying and on cost-effective drying methods; encouragement of sun drying; construction of solar-heated, forced-air dryers (and providing the training necessary for design, construction, and operation); and construction of supplemental solar heaters for preheating at commercial drying facilities. Increased use of agricultural solar drying would provide a better supply of food products throughout the year and would also improve Jamaica"s balance of payments. Appendices include a 15-item (1970-79) bibliography; a list of interviewees; data on various solar applications including computed solar radiation, solar preheating of air for rotary drum drying and agricultural product drying; and a summary of a splinter group discussion.