Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) along with several other stakeholders, yesterday, at their Quamina Street location commissioned the first Grid –Tie Solar Photovoltaic demonstration project. At the commissioning ceremony was GEA Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mahender Sharma, Prime Minister Sam Hinds, GIZ representative Mr. Thomas Sheutzlic, Honorary Consul for Austria Mr. Benter Welle along with staff and other invited guest.
CEO of GEA, Dr. Sharma gave a detailed outline of the project explaining that Sun Solar power exemplifies the need for a diversified energy matrix. In what he explained that on another rainy day when fossil fuels are in limited supply we will want to have hydropower, co-generation, solar power, wind power and biofuels on our side.
Sharma, giving an extensive overview on the project, said Guyana usually receives abundant sunshine and has for many years been using solar photovoltaic panels for a number of applications, primarily in remote areas without access to a grid.
The GEA with support from GIZ and the Austrian Development Cooperation has recently completed installation of an 8.46KW Grid Tie Solar Photovoltaic Demonstration Project.
Conceptualised some two years ago, the GEA worked with GIZ during 2011 to design the system and secure financing which was graciously provided by the Austrian Development Cooperation.
As the overarching objectives, the system was installed to provide the use of renewable energy in Guyana, gain understanding of grid tie opportunities and to demonstrate the use and application of solar photovoltaic grid tie technology.
The grid tie solar photovoltaic demonstration system saw 36 panels each rated at 235 watts which were mounted on a shed at the Quamina street location for a total capacity of 8.46KW. These panels convert the sun’s energy to DC electrical energy which is then converted to AC voltage by a grid tie inverter system.
Sharma explained that the grid – tie inverter is the interface between the solar panel, the building’s load and supply from the grid or GL in our case. The power supplied from the solar panels is about 20% of the power demand of the load from the building, so during a regular business day, the grid-tie inverter senses the amount of energy coming from the solar panels, measures the amount of energy being consumed by the building and then takes the difference from the grid.
On holidays and weekends when the load of the building is less than the power supplied from the solar panels, most of the energy is supplied to the grid as the system which generate approximately 13,895 Kilowatt-hour (KWh) of renewable energy per year and would result in savings of G$914.429 per year.
He noted, that while the total cost of this demonstration project was G$7.4M, “if we were to remove the cost associated with demonstration, monitoring and education, the simple payback for the project based on capital cost of G$6.3M would be just under seven years.” Solar panels usually have a lifetime of between 15 to 25 years depending on the care and maintenance.
This translates into an average cost of G$745 per watt installed, while the estimated energy production of 13.895kWh per year from renewable energy would result in the reduction of 11.116kg of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
The system which is currently operating on a net metering arrangement with GPL using the existing itron meter as a module upgrade was sourced and installed, allowing the existing meter to now read energy received from the grid, energy supplied to the grid and net energy. With assistance in achieving the project objectives, the system was complemented with a forty inch monitor that displays the operational data, including actual power production in Kw, accumulated energy production in KWH and avoided carbon dioxide in kg. Real time power generation and energy consumption can be viewed from the GEA website www.gea.gov.gy.
Sharma went on to highlight the benefits of this display are valued in terms of promoting awareness to the public and understanding the accumulated savings over time in a reader friendly format.
This project has worked closely with several stakeholders to explore the opportunities and gain experience related to the operation of the grid-tie system.
Since September 2011, the GEA commenced dialogue with the Guyana Power & Light Inc., Public Utilities Commission (PUC), and Government Electrical Inspectorate, Office of the Prime Minister – Hinterland Electrification Unit, Environmental Protection Agency and the University Of Guyana Faculty Of Technology.
Responding to invitations to oversee and learn from the installation and operation of the grid – tie PV system, a final year Electrical Engineering student from the University of Guyana has modelled the system for his final year project. The Dean of the Faculty of Technology, University of Guyana has signalled his intention to prepare a research paper using the Grid – Tie Solar Photovoltaic Demonstration project.
Examples of the solar PV connected to isolated mini grid at Port Kailua and Mahdia.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds in his presentation congratulated the GEA and the other stakeholders for their effort in demonstrating a perfect example in renewable energy but noted that the cost is bearable and would soon see a reduction if all gets involved.
He urged that Guyana will have to soon get on board the project since the Amelia’s Falls project is expected to break ground by mid-2013 and in 42 months we are expected to receive power, if all goes well.
GIZ representative Mr. Thomas Sheutzlis indentified the number of countries such a project is presently being used and all has been funded by his organisation.
Honorary Consul for Austria, Mr. Benter Welle expressed gratitude in having the opportunity to share in such a project.