– boosting Guyana’s renewable energy drive
CONSTRUCTION of the 3-megawatt peak (MWp) Hampshire Solar Farm in Berbice, Region Six, is nearing completion, with work advancing rapidly towards finalisation.
According to the Office of the Prime Minister, once operational, the facility will supply renewable energy directly to the national grid, strengthening generation capacity within the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS). This will significantly enhance the reliability and sustainability of electricity supply in the region.
The solar farm is part of a larger national initiative launched in March 2024, when the Government of Guyana signed contracts totalling US$38 million to deliver 18 MWp of solar power capacity across Regions Two, Five, and Six. Under the project, eight MWp will be installed at Onderneeming and Charity in Region Two, while 10 MWp will be shared among Trafalgar and Prospect in Region Five, and Hampshire in Region Six.
The initiative also includes the installation of battery energy storage systems to improve stability and ensure consistent supply.
The Guyana Utility-Scale Photovoltaic Programme (GUYSOL), implemented in partnership with the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), is spearheading the works. Funding is sourced from the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund, which was established under the former PPP/C administration led by then-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo. The Fund invests proceeds from Guyana’s climate service sales into projects that support the country’s low-carbon transition.
Government officials have underscored that the contracts represent a key milestone in Guyana’s clean energy agenda, advancing sustainable infrastructure and moving the nation closer to its goal of generating 70 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
The Hampshire Solar Farm is expected to be commissioned later this year.