GEA installs $3.5M solar PV system at Low Wood Primary School

In keeping with its mandate to provide reliable and sustainable energy solutions for all Guyanese, the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) conducted the installation of a new 3.3 kilowatt peak power output (kWp) solar photovoltaic (PV) system on Wednesday at the Low Wood Primary School along the Demerara River.
The total system cost was $3.5 million. The two-day installation exercise began on January 15 and ended on January 17, 2024.
Following complaints of a non-functional system, a team of GEA engineers visited the school and assessed it on January 10. Several issues were identified, including depleted batteries that were unchangeable, a defective inverter and other components requiring an upgrade to meet the existing load.
According to GEA Energy Engineer Samuel Blackman, a load refers to any appliance or device that consumes electricity such as lights, refrigerators, water dispensers, and microwaves, to name but a few.
Blackman highlighted that a load analysis was critical to accurately size the photovoltaic components of the school’s system and determine the electrical requirements of the building.
“You do not want to oversize or undersize the components of a PV system. Proper sizing is important so the system can fulfil the load requirements of the building. It is the individual loads that add up to size a system appropriately,” he said.
From the load analysis assessment, the primary school was successfully equipped with a 3.3kWp system, that includes a battery capacity of 19.2kWh (kilowatt hour) and inverter capacity of 5kW (kilowatts).
This solar system will provide adequate electricity supply and enable the use of all electrical appliances and equipment, including a fan; photocopier; water dispenser; six foot-foot LED (light emitting diode) lights; laptops and network devices for Internet connection in the Primary School.
Blackman fondly relayed that several students immediately gathered with excitement around the water dispenser after the school was powered. Further, both students and teachers expressed immense appreciation and gratitude for the opportunity to access solar energy.
The Energy Agency continues to advance renewable energy management, conservation and energy-efficient initiatives that are easily accessible and beneficial to the public.
The Agency, governed by the Guyana Energy Agency Act 1997 (Act No 31 of 1997) that has been amended over the years, remains steadfast in its mission to ensure the rational and efficient use of imported petroleum-based energy sources, while encouraging where economically feasible and environmentally acceptable, increased utilisation of indigenous new and renewable sources of energy, for instance, the installation of solar PV systems.