Suresh Ramkissoon of San Jorge Investments told Stabroek News that the micro, mini, small and medium sized electric plants offer an environmentally-friendly energy solution. He said that the Brazilian branded INDALMA turbines will provide a “win-win” situation for potential government and community partnerships, by generating power with a minimal carbon footprint. The hydro electric system–ranging from 100KW to 50,000 KW—units could be used for private homes, farms and more importantly, to provide electricity to small, medium and large-sized communities, he explained. In particular, Ramkissoon noted that the plants can be used as a pivotal source of energy to communities within Guyana’s hinterland. He cited Mahdia in Region 8 as a good example, saying that such a community would utilize 1 MW of power, being for domestic, commercial and industrial use.
He said that the cost attached to setting up the equipment lies with the geographical nature of the area at which the plant is being set-up. Ramkissoon, who has been in the business for close to five years, said that he had been setting-up plants in northern Brazil over the years and he noted that it will take between four and five months to set up the plants, depending on the size of the machine. A technical team will initially carry the feasibility studies on the project before physical works begin.
According to Ramkissoon, the technology behind the hydro plant is simple and the cost ranges from $20M to $40M. Existing creeks, rivers or waterfalls around the area where the plant is being set-up can generate quality pure and renewable power. The capacity generated from the plant will depend on the altitude of the water source and existent water.
Ramkissoon, who said mini-hydro plants are “the way to go,” noted that the benefits of the technology are that “it buys carbon credit… [and] each tonne of carbon we avoid, Guyana is going to benefit from it by saving our forest.” He said that the technology bodes well for the government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy.
Further, he said that in Brazil the technology is being utilized by the authorities through assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It is estimated that 12 million Brazilians—many of whom live in remote areas of the Amazon rainforest—lack access to electricity. In recent years, a government programme has linked about 1.5 million Brazilians to electricity through grid extension. But as it reaches more remote areas, grid extension becomes more expensive and serves fewer people.
As a result, USAID and its partners designed a solution to the problem through a pilot project to install a renewable-energy “mini-grid” in a remote community. The pilot was tested in the village of Cachoeira do Aruã, a 10-hour, 145-kilometer boat ride from Santarém up a tributary of the Amazon. The project team installed a 50-KW hydropower turbine at a five-metre waterfall and a mini-grid in the village. They also negotiated legal terms with the local power utility, helped the community organize a management system, and even advised them on developing and marketing sustainable products.
Mini-grids were chosen because they eliminate the need to extend the electrical grid into remote areas. With technical support from energy companies, the people in remote communities take charge of managing their local grid.
Ramkissoon has already attracted customers and was optimistic that through his initiative many Guyanese living in remote areas across the country will have a ready supply of electricity to their homes in the near future.
