By Samuel Gillis
Today, a significant step toward Guyana’s renewable energy goals was taken as a contract was inked to kick start the US$83.3 million Guyana Utility Scale Solar Photovoltaic Programme (GUYSOL).
At the Office of the Prime Minister, a consortium of Chinese companies known as SUMEC and Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) signed the contract, marking the beginning of a transformative initiative in Guyana’s energy sector.
The GUYSOL programme, a collaboration between GPL and SUMEC Group, aims to implement utility-scale photovoltaic projects to enhance Guyana’s energy sustainability.
Under this initiative, 80-megawatt solar PV farms and battery storage systems will be installed in Regions 2, 5, and 6.
Administered by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), GUYSOL aligns with Guyana’s Low-Carbon Development Strategy.
Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, highlighted the importance of the Guyana-Norway agreement in facilitating such initiatives, emphasizing its role in establishing necessary institutions for effective implementation.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips expressed the government’s commitment to implementing people-centered projects, emphasizing the aim of improving the lives of Guyanese through initiatives like GUYSOL.
This project represents the largest installation of renewable energy in the country, with plans to procure an additional 15 megawatts of solar PV later this year.
In addition to advancing renewable energy, GUYSOL will implement social development initiatives, including the training of 50 women in solar PV installation and maintenance, along with providing clean and affordable energy to 27,000 households in targeted communities.
The funding for this programme, totaling US$83.3 million, stems from the US$220.8 million earned by Guyana for forest climate services through its partnership with Norway, demonstrating the tangible benefits of international collaboration in addressing climate change.