By Anthony Henry

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has hosted a webinar aimed at advancing resilient, low-emission energy planning for rural communities, using Jamaica as a key case study.

According to information published on the FAO Jamaica Country Office website, the virtual webinar on Mesh Grid Systems for Innovative Rural Energy Communities (MIREC) was held on December 15, 2025, and brought together more than 40 energy experts, policymakers, development practitioners and other stakeholders.

The session introduced a simulation tool designed to support the planning and optimisation of decentralised hybrid energy systems that combine solar photovoltaic power and biogas, linked through mesh grid networks. While Jamaica was used as the primary case study, FAO said the tool is adaptable to rural communities globally.

Opening the webinar, Assistant FAO Representative Roslyn Jackson-Richards said the MIREC initiative is intended to strengthen Jamaica’s capacity to plan affordable, reliable and sustainable energy systems for rural areas. She noted that the effort supports farmers operating beyond the national grid, builds resilience in rural enterprises and reduces vulnerability to climate-related shocks.

FAO said the impact of Hurricane Melissa recently highlighted the susceptibility of rural communities to electricity disruptions, particularly farmers who depend on power for irrigation, storage and processing.

The MIREC tool allows users to design, size and assess decentralised hybrid energy systems before physical investments are made. Using local data, the platform can simulate energy demand, optimise system configurations, estimate costs and assess sustainability indicators, including emissions reductions and renewable energy shares.

Presentations by specialists from FAO’s Energy Division demonstrated how solar PV generation, biogas from agricultural waste and battery storage can be integrated through low-voltage mesh grids that allow energy sharing among clustered communities.

Project Coordinator Stacy Rose said data collected in St Catherine and Clarendon showed how local information on energy use, waste availability and infrastructure can be translated into tailored rural energy planning scenarios. Case studies from Kitson Town, Spring Village and Williams Well in St Catherine, and Four Paths in Clarendon, demonstrated the potential for mesh grid systems to reduce outages and support agricultural enterprises.

FAO said while the initiative is grounded in Jamaica’s context, the MIREC platform is designed as a scalable solution for rural communities across the Caribbean and beyond.