Guyana to benefit from US expertise on renewable energy – Ambassador

As Guyana pursues its renewable energy agenda, the country is likely to benefit from United States expertise to develop this sector here.
This is according to U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch.
During a recent press conference, Ambassador Lynch pointed out that there is a lot of potential in the country for the development of renewable energy, such as wind, hydro and solar; and she declared it is important for Guyana to look seriously at these areas.
“We have a lot of experience in the renewables area, and I think USAID (United States Agency for International Development) can offer some expertise in that area… So, I can say yes. We have been involved with Guyana in the past in the environment area, and we will continue to do that and look for opportunities to explore the potential in the renewables area,” the U.S. diplomat said in response to a question from <<Guyana Times>> on whether Guyana can benefit from her Government in this sector.

Ambassador Lynch outlined that while it is important to explore the potential for the renewable energy sector, this needs to be balanced with Guyana’s current development trajectory.
“There have been over nine billion barrels of oil discoveries made by ExxonMobil and its partners, and this puts Guyana on the cusp of transformational change and opening up lots of sectors – not just oil and gas, but many sectors throughout the country, and potentially creating lots of jobs for Guyanese and improving the overall economic situation here. But Guyana’s true wealth and beauty is in its forest, its great bio-diversity; in its marine life. So, it’s also an opportune time to look at those [renewable] areas and focus on the importance of the environment,” she posited.
Among the United States’ pledges to the global climate fight, the Biden-Harris Administration has committed to double overall climate financing and triple the amount of finance going towards adaptation in countries that need help in managing climate impacts.
In addition to this, the U.S. Government has recognised that it has an international obligation to not just meet its commitment in the Paris Agreement, but also providing resources for vulnerable and in-need nations.
Ambassador Lynch had previously told Guyana Times that Guyana would make a good partner for the U.S. to collaborate with on this global phenomenon.
Added to this, White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, during a recent briefing with journalists from around the world, had told Guyana Times that the U.S. is planning to share its domestic technologies and innovations with developing countries, to aid in their efforts to combat climate change.
“I want other countries to understand and to have access to the innovations in clean energy technologies as soon as we can, so they can reap not just the cost-savings benefit, but the public health and safety and security benefits that a clean energy economy can bring,” McCarthy stated during the session as part of a Virtual Reporting Tour hosted by the State Department’s Foreign Press Center.
Meanwhile, in Guyana, the Irfaan Ali-led Government is pursuing an ambitious plan to introduce an energy mix of solar, wind, hydro and natural gas, which would see some 400 megawatts of new power added to the national grid.
As it is now, the national grid is providing 120 megawatts of electricity, while the consumer demand is approximately 117-120 megawatts of power.
The flagship initiative of Government’s plan is the gas-to-shore project. Estimated at a cost of some US$900 million to build, the gas-to-shore project is a game-changing initiative that would see excess gas from the Liza Field offshore Guyana being piped onshore to generate power. The main objective of the initiative is to transport sufficient gas from the Stabroek Block’s petroleum operations to supply some 200-250 megawatts of energy to the national grid, leading to a significant reduction in electricity costs.
President Ali had previously said the gas-to-shore pipeline, which will land at Crane on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD), would lead to “big industrial development taking place there that is linked to not only power generation and a power plant.” He also said the investment on the Demerara River shoreside would create massive opportunities and a trickle-down effect, especially for Region Three.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who has responsibility for the energy sector, had previously said Government is looking to produce 200 megawatts of power from the gas-to-shore project by 2024.
Another major project on Government’s energy agenda is the revival of the Amaila Falls Hydro Project (AFHP), which is the brainchild of the previous People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration, but was shelved soon after the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government had taken office in 2015. The
PPP had contended that the 165-megawatt AFHP project could have been generating about 50 per cent more electricity than the entire GPL supply. (Vahnu Manikchand)