Continually declining reliability on the electricity generation service afforded them by the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) an increasing number of Guyanese are beginning to turn their attention to the solar energy option as some the country’s leading merchants seek to provide consumers with an alternative energy source.

Over the past four years an increasing number of wholesale and retail outlets including National Hardware, Gafoors, Farfan and Mendes and Jerome De Freitas and Sons have been offering solar components for sale. General Manager of Starr Computers Rehman Majeed, another company that supplies solar equipment told Stabroek Business that the solar option could become increasingly appealing in the face of current high electricity charges.

Almost two years ago Majeed told Stabroek Business that he felt that local demand for solar energy would grow. Increased demand, he says, is currently reflected in both the business and domestic sectors. Majeed told Stabroek Business that Starr Computers’ Brickdam premises has, for some time new, been powered entirely by an elaborate network of solar panels installed on the roof of the building. “Apart from the fact that the savings are significant you learn a great deal about energy conservation from becoming involved with the installation of solar panels as an energy option,” Majeed said.

Meanwhile, Majeed says that despite the fact that there has been a significant response to what is now the widespread commercial availability of solar energy, the service still remains sufficiently high to discourage many consumers. “I am really not sure as to how many businesses in the city have elaborate solar systems. Certainly, as far as domestic users are concerned it is fair to say that the installation v=costs are probably still too prohibitively high,” Majeed says.

He believes, however, that “inevitably,” the local market for the solar option will grow. “I remember the days when a basic computer cost US$2,000,00. Today it is a matter of $US500.00. Inevitably, demand for solar-powered services will increase and the technology will become both cheaper and more accessible,” Majeed adds.

The Starr Companies head told Stabroek Business that the company has been seeking to build its capacity to offer solar-related solutions to power-related problems. “We have actually been able to do some useful work with clients who have security-related problems arising out of the fact that surveillance equipment is rendered useless in the face of power problems. What we have been able to do is to apply solar energy in such a manner as to ensure that those clients secure a 24-hour solar power service for their security surveillance equipment.”
Majeed told Stabroek Business that Starr Computers was pursuing a policy of educating solar power seekers before addressing the issue of sales. “We do not simply sell customers solar power on demand. We have a form on which we secure information from them regarding their electricity consumption patterns. That way we are able to assess their needs and offer them the best advice possible as to exactly what can be applied to respond to those needs,” Majeed said.

Proprietopr of Jerome De Freitas & Sons Jerome De Freitas told Stabroek Business that apart from consumer concerns arising out of unreliable electricity supply, there were also consumers relating to the believability of bills provided by GPL. De Freitas told Stabroek Business that some state-run schools had at least partially converted to solar panels under the Ministry of Education’s Fast Track Initiative while. De Freitas also endorsed the view expressed by Majeed that the initial equipment and materials costs for the setting up of a solar power infrastructure could prove prohibitive for ordinary electricity consumers. He estimates that the installation of a “basic” solar energy  service could incur costs ranging from $1.3m to $3m.