Guyana is set to commence the rollout of the first phase of a project aimed at providing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for 30,000 homes in hinterland communities starting in July. The announcement was made by Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Dr. Mahender Sharma, during a multistakeholder consultation on the presentation of Guyana’s Second Voluntary National Review of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The initiative involves the installation of 150-watt solar PV systems to bridge the energy gap that exists between urban and rural areas of the country. The Department of Public Information said the first batch of 1,830 solar PV home systems is expected to arrive in July, with additional batches arriving in August, September, October, and November to complete the rollout by the end of the year.
Dr. Sharma noted that the initiative was “fairly advanced” and that the GEA is working closely with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development to ensure its success.
The Department of Public Information did not name the contractor responsible for the project. Guyana’s National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) had published a notice stating that Rajasthan Electronics & Instrument Ltd. and Premier Energy Ltd. had submitted bids for the project.
The move towards solar energy is part of Guyana’s broader strategy to transition towards renewable energy sources and reduce its carbon footprint.
