A solar photovoltaic (PV) farm has been commissioned at Bartica as part of government’s push for renewable energy.
A release from the Office of the Prime Minister on Friday said that Bartica in Region Seven now has Guyana’s first 1.5 megawatt (MW) PV farm. It was commissioned by Prime Minister, Mark Phillips. The PV facility which is located at Dog Point, was organised by the Guyana Energy Agency in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) under the Guyana Utility Scale Solar Photovoltaic Programme (GUYSOL).
According to the release, the plant was designed to accommodate increased levels of solar PV penetration as Bartica’s load grows. At maximum capacity, the system will generate and supply a total of 1,988 MWh to the grid, resulting in an estimated annual consumption reduction of 4,500 drums of diesel and a 1.5 million kilogramme reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
The ceremony was also attended by IDB Country Representative, Lorena Salazar; Guyana Energy Agency Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mahender Sharma; Guyana Power and Light Chief Executive Officer, Renford Homer; Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall; Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council, Kenneth Williams; as well as IDB representatives and regional officers.
During his remarks, the PM assured that the government remains committed to providing equitable development to all Guyanese.
“I represent a Government that is big on bringing development to the people of Guyana, wherever they live…what is important for us is the development of all the people of Guyana and at a strategic level, we have a strategic directive, where we want to lead on food security, we want to lead on energy security, and we want to lead on matters pertaining to the environment”, he said.
The project, he noted, is evidence of the government’s dedication to the low-carbon future envisioned in the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030, which accelerates the use of natural gas as a transitional fuel between heavy fuel oil and solar, hydropower, wind, and biomass. He also promised more solar projects as well as hydro projects. “We will also, as part of the energy mix, utilise solar energy, wind energy, biomass and hydro power. So, you have an energy mix there and more of the non-gas energy mix will be utilise to power the hinterland”, he said.
Phillips, also expressed optimism that the solar farm, will aid in the overall development of the town. He also disclosed that by the end of May, 2023, micro solar projects will be established at Waramadong, Jawalla and Paruima, the release added.
