In keeping with the energy objectives of Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy to transition to a hundred per cent use of renewable and clean energy sources, the Guyana Oil Company Limited (GUYOIL) will officially open their Green Office and Store Complex (GGOSC) located at GUYOIL’s Providence Terminal, East Bank Demerara, on Friday 6th September, a GUYOIL release has stated.
The one hundred percent solar energy building was designed by Marcel Gaskin and Associates and constructed by R Bassoo and Sons, while the solar installation was done by Standby Power Engineering Company (SPECOM). The GGOSC was designed to accommodate their growing workforce and benefit from having staff closer to the terminal for the smooth flow of their operations.
Electrical Engineer, Bisham Persaud, explained that after significant consultations they were certain a one hundred percent solar building would be cost-efficient and best suited for a country with a green vision. He also noted that the solar project has a fully Off-Grid Hybrid System which means that it has three sources of power – solar panels, storage batteries, and back-up generators. The Off-Grid Hybrid System allows the solar panels to provide adequate power for the full loading of the building during the day, while the surplus is diverted to storage batteries that provide power at night and during overcast conditions. The back-up generator will only be used if the overcast conditions last for six hours or more.
According to the release, GUYOIL also made provision for growth at the green office. “The solar system on the building has the capacity for growth, we have the potential to add the Providence Service Station to the grid. So in the event that any expansions have to be done the grid will be able to handle it,” Project Engineer, Steven Nascimento disclosed.
The CEO of GUYOIL Renatha Exeter said that GUYOIL has over the years endeavoured to employ best practices and as a state-owned enterprise, be supportive of Government initiatives. She added that the commissioning of the GGOSC, is in accordance with the energy objectives of the country’s Green State Development Strategy and envisions that within the next three to five years all of GUYOIL’s locations will transition to solar energy.
