The resident students of President’s College now have an alternative means of electricity supply for lights during power outages.
The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) in partnership with Authentix Inc recently installed three stand-alone Solar Photo-voltaic (PV) systems, at a total cost of $2,891,328, to provide energy efficient backup lighting with motion/occupancy sensors in the three dormitories at President’s College.
In a press release, the GEA said that this alternative source of electricity is expected to assist in providing lighting for security purposes during power outages, enabling students to complete assignments, homework and projects in a timely manner, and facilitating studying at nights during power outages.
Previously there was no alternative or backup electricity supply in the event of a utility failure therefore loss of power resulted in much frustration, inconvenience as well as negatively impacted the resident students at night. “Power outages at nights resulted in disruption of activities such as studying, doing assignments and School Based Assessments (SBAs) which in turn may have had a negative impact on academic performance at the institution,” GEA noted in the press release.
The release explains that Authentix provided funding for the project to the tune of US$10,000- the equivalent of $2,090,000. While the GEA supplied the design, technical oversight and installation as well as provided solar panels, inverters and other support to the value of $801,328.
The solar photovoltaic systems, which were designed by Brian Constantine, one of GEA’s Energy Engineers, provides lighting in priority areas such as the living quarters, washrooms, apartments and corridors in each dormitory and will only be for use in cases of emergencies or backup.
According to Constantine, “The system was designed based on the energy use (demand) at each dorm in the event of a utility failure to provide energy efficient lighting on demand using motion/ occupancy sensors.” He added, “…the energy demand was based on the number of lights (approximately 44 lights per dorm) and the resulting usage time of each light in the various areas.”
Provision has also been made to protect the system against over use and ensure sustainability. Each inverter is equipped with a low voltage disconnect, thereby preventing overuse of the system while the corridors of each dormitory have been equipped with “occupancy sensors to ensure operation of the hallway lights only when needed.”
Authentix located in Dallas, Texas USA, enables brand owners and governments to build market confidence and maximize revenue by authenticating products to combat counterfeiting, protect brand equity and assure program integrity. The company has been working with GRA since 2003 as the provider of the “marking chemical’ for GEA’s Fuel Marking Programme.
Speaking about the project Bernard C Bailey Ph.D, Chairman and CEO of Authentix said, “we are thrilled to be able to provide these students with advanced solar and lighting technology to support their studies.”
President’s College, one of the country’s top school which is located in Golden Grove on the East Coast Demerara, was founded in 1985. The institution has three dormitories which accommodate students from all regions across Guyana. At present, about 250 students are resident at the college.
The release stressed that GEA remains committed, in keeping with its mandate, to developing and encouraging the development and utilisation of alternative sources of energy in the execution of the vision to provide reliable energy that is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable for all in Guyana.