IN an effort to gain a deeper understanding of the benefits and implications of energy efficient street lighting, address environmental concerns, acquire potential energy savings of newer technologies and reducing maintenance costs, the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has once again piloted another ‘Street Light Technology’ through the ‘Induction Lamps Street Light Project’.

Between June 15th-19th, 2015 a team of Engineers, led by Energy Engineer, Mr Leon DeSouza, replaced 37 high pressure sodium vapour (HPSV) street lamps (rated at 250 watts each) on the Timehri Highway, between Bounty Farm and the Timehri Police Outpost, with 37 energy efficient Induction Lamps rated at 120 watts each along with one (1) timer control relay rated at 25 ampere to switch lamps ON at nights and OFF during the day.
Based on a study conducted by the GEA, the Government of Guyana operates about 6,000 HPSV street lamps for highway lighting which accrue a yearly operational cost of approximately G$365.7 million dollars per year while consuming 6,570,000 kWh of energy.
Through the use of Induction street lamps (and the use of light emitting diode (LED) lamps), it is possible to significantly reduce costs associated with the provision of street lighting.
Induction Lighting, unlike most other light technologies, does not use electrodes to create illumination. Rather than using electrodes or filaments, induction lamps use electromagnetic energy in a non-destructive process to produce energy efficient lighting.
With no electrodes to fail, Induction Lights can last up to 100,000 hours. To put this into perspective, an induction lighting system lasting 100,000 hours will last more than 11 years in continuous 24/7 operation, and 25 years if operated 10 hours a day.
Additionally, induction lighting has many advantages including the following:
• Virtually maintenance-free operation
• High efficacy – in many cases, 60+ or 70+ lumens per watt
• Long life
• Excellent colour rendering index (CRI)—80+ and in some cases 90+
• Choice of warm white to cool white (2,700–6,500 K)
• Instant start and restrike operation
• No flickering, strobing, or noise
• Low-temperature operation
Implemented at a total cost of G$2,102,064 with an estimated simple payback period of about 1.09 years, the Project aims to demonstrate the suitability, benefits and savings associated with induction street lamps.
The GEA, in a statement to the media yesterday, explained that this venture will afford the Street Light Division, the Energy Agency and other stakeholders to gain a deeper understanding of the benefits and implication of yet another efficient lighting technology.
The Guyana Energy Agency will continue to monitor, research and record the performance of the Induction Lamps. The information obtained from data gathering, and experience gained from the installation process, will be used to guide decisions with regards to street lighting. According to Dr. Mahender Sharma, CEO of GEA, “the information obtained will allow the GEA to compare the Induction Street Lamps with the previously installed Led Street Lights to determine which of the two technologies is best suited for use in Guyana”.
GEA encourages all Municipalities, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and civic groups to observe this pilot as street lighting falls within the mandate of the “owner” of the streets. The Ministry of Infrastructure is responsible for any lighting of the National main roads whilst Local Government organs are responsible for any lighting of local roads and streets. Should anyone (commuters/passers-by) wish to give feedback about the technology they can do so via telephone number 226-0394 ext. 241.