Solar star Abigail Dixon to represent Jamaica in Shanghai

For 17-year-old Abigail Dixon, renewable energy represents both a pathway to Jamaica's sustainable future and a personal calling - one rooted in curiosity, strengthened by training and now propelling her onto the international stage.

Hailing from Highgate, St Mary, the sixth-form student at St Mary Technical High School has turned curiosity into expertise, and expertise into a ticket to the global stage.

Dixon's talent shone brightly last October at the 2025 WorldSkills Jamaica National Skills Competition at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, where she placed second in the renewable energy category, showcasing her skill in solar system installation. Her performance earned national acclaim and secured her spot to represent Jamaica at the National World Skills Competition in Shanghai, China, set for September 22-27.

Her journey into renewable energy, she says, began unexpectedly.

"I was initially placed in the electrical class, but my interest grew out of curiosity about how energy can be generated from natural sources like the sun, wind, and running water," Dixon explained.

"I became fascinated by the idea that we can produce electricity from renewable resources while protecting the environment, reducing climate change, and creating sustainable solutions for the future," she added.

For Dixon, the promise of renewable energy goes hand in hand with Jamaica's long-term development goals under Vision 2030. She sees it as a practical path to reducing reliance on the national energy grid and cutting energy costs.

"We do not really want to consume from the grid as much and look at Jamaica with a lot of sun; why not do solar?" she asked, highlighting the country's untapped potential in green technology.

Her technical skills have been sharpened by the newly established Innovation Hub for Electrical and Renewable Energy at St Mary Technical High School. Funded with a $20-million investment from the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, the hub opened its doors on February 6.

"For the school, it helps us to become the premier TVET institution in Jamaica, and for the students, it enhances our hands-on skills and not just focus on theoretical knowledge," Dixon said.

While solar energy remains her primary focus, Dixon is eager to expand her horizons.

"When people talk about renewable energy, they mostly think about solar, but I am excited to learn about wind energy and hydroelectricity, like how do we get energy from the wind or from flowing water," she shared.