The Government, through the Office of the Prime Minister, has signed a $362.4M contract with Standby Power Engineering Company (SPECOM) for the construction of a 0.686-Megawatt Solar Farm, which is expected to provide close to 3,000 residents living in Mahdia with a reliable and efficient supply of electricity.

The 686kWp Turn-key Solar Farm, which will be constructed on 1.7 acres of land, is being financed under the Energy Matrix Diversification and Strengthening of the Department of Energy (EMISDE) Programme with a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

At Colgraine House on Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark Phillips witnessed the contract signing by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Dr Mahender Sharma, the General Manager of SPECOM, Aundrea Cambridge, and Permanent Secretary, Derrick Cummings.

Prime Minister Phillips said the project will aid in bridging the energy gap.

“This is an important project for us because we talk about bridging the digital divide. As a government, we are committed to also bridging the energy divide. We are committed to bringing development to the Hinterland of Guyana,” the Prime Minister said. 

Currently, the town is being powered by a 1.5MW Diesel Generation Power Plant, which is operated and managed by Mahdia Power and Light Inc. (MPL), however, fuel accounts for approximately 67% of the company’s expenditure.

However, with a total PV capacity of 686.4kWp, storage of 1500kWh and an average peak area load of 375kW, it is anticipated that about 25% fuel saving is likely in the first 5-7 years of operation of the solar farm.

In addition to offsetting 30-65% or more of the annual electricity to the Mahdia mini-grid; the Solar Farm would have the capacity to supply electricity to the community in excess of 2-hours daily without the operation of Diesel Generators.

Cambridge assured the Government that the project will be completed before the end of 2023 and on budget.

Just recently, GEA commissioned its first mega-scale solar farm at Lethem. The 1MW Solar farm was commissioned in August, 2022 and has since avoided the consumption of some 72,711 litres of diesel or about 457 drums.  A 1.5MW solar farm at Bartica is expected to be commissioned during the last quarter of 2022.

As part of its Low Carbon Development Strategy, Government has been installing solar farms at Lethem and Bartica. Some 28 solar mini-grids, and 29 off-grid locations totalling 3.415MW have been installed thus far.

The Government has said that it remains committed to realising the objectives and targets of the Low Carbon Development Strategy by investing in clean energy.

As part of the sustainable energy transition, the government is advancing an energy mix of hydropower, natural gas, solar and wind, leading to more than 500MW of newly installed capacity. This expansion in installed capacity is geared towards addressing the anticipated tripling in electricity demand.

Related posts:

Prime Minister promises that delayed Hinterland solar power project will get underway this year; $1.7B to be invested Contract signed for gas to energy plant’s construction at Wales US$83.3 Million agreement signed with IDB for major solar project Naysayers will not be allowed to block Amalia hydropower project -VP Jagdeo