STATE House, the Ministry of the Presidency and the Hydromet Office are among buildings that will soon be powered by solar energy as the Government forges ahead with its plans to utilise renewable energy on a much larger scale. The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) was designated by Cabinet to lead the transitioning efforts. In a statement on Monday, the GEA said so far for 2017, 178.5kWp of new solar photovoltaic (PV) Installations have been completed.

Through an Open Tender Procurement Process, GEA said a contract has been awarded for the supply and installation of Solar PV Systems at 55 Government buildings totalling 740kWp. “Based on savings, a new tender is currently being advertised for the supply and installation of solar PV systems to be installed at an additional 18 Buildings with 382kWp of new solar PV systems,” GEA disclosed.

Additionally, tenders are currently being processed for the supply and installation of solar PV systems at State House (additional 22kWp with storage), Ministry of the Presidency (130kWp), Hydromet (6kWp), NAREI (5 buildings totaling 16kWp with battery storage), St. Cuthbert’s Mission (primary School, village benab, health centre and Doctors Quarters totalling 4.5kWp with storage and energy- efficient lights), Ministry of Health (Malaria buildings at Sand Creek and Karasabai and Kamarang totalling 0.42kWp with storage and LED lights), Anna Regina Town Hall (12 kWp), Corriverton Town Hall (8 kWp), Rose Hall Town Hall (6 kWp), Bartica Town Hall (10 kWp), Bartica Community Centre Ground (6 kWp), New Amsterdam Town Hall (12 kWp), Linden Town Hall (25 kWp), Orealla Community Radio Station (2.5 kWp) and Aishalton Community Radio Station (4 kWp).
Dr. Mahender Sharma, GEA CEO, indicated that apart from reduced energy costs and avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions, the installations will raise awareness among stakeholders about the applicability and functionality of renewable energy.
He said that “it is expected to contribute towards Guyana’s efforts to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels through the proliferation and deployment of Renewable Energy Technologies.”

Sharma further posited that “the institutions were chosen from among government buildings on which the GEA had conducted energy assessments and from regions with ease of access to the national grid. Priority was also given to technical institutions to build capacity within these institutions.”
GEA Energy Engineer Leon DeSouza, explained that the majority of the systems will be grid-connected, explaining that they will be generating electricity for internal consumption, while the excess energy will be supplied to the national electricity grid.
“The project will also seek to demonstrate the applicability of photovoltaic system operation and its energy contribution in Guyana,” DeSouza added.

The solar PV systems installations to be supervised by GEA will total 2.76MW in 2017 alone. Along with the planned 400kWp PV Farm with 400 kWh of energy storage to be installed by HECI,the combined installed solar PV will be an unprecedented 3.152 MWp.
It was noted that the 3.152 MWp of new solar PV installations will produce an estimated 4,576,610 kWh of energy annually, which will result in over G$269 million dollars in annual savings and result in avoided carbon dioxide emissions of 4,347 tons. As part of the realisation of the vision to provide reliable energy in an environmentally, socially and sustainable framework, GEA intends to conduct similar exercises at other public Institutions in Guyana. The agency will also continue to provide technical support, monitoring and training in the use and operation of the systems.