Georgetown turns to solar mapping tool for rooftop PV installations

In an effort to accelerate the shift to renewable energy and cut long-term electricity costs, Guyana has rolled out a new digital platform that allows residents and businesses in Georgetown to assess the potential of solar energy on their rooftops. The initiative, spearheaded by the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL Inc.) with support from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), involves the use of the IRENA Solar City Simulator, a sophisticated, web-based tool designed to evaluate the viability of rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.
The platform, which is currently being piloted in Georgetown, enables homeowners, commercial property owners and municipal authorities to estimate how much electricity they can generate from solar panels installed on their rooftops. It also helps calculate potential cost savings compared to traditional energy sources by using a cash flow financing model.

What sets this tool apart is its use of high-resolution, three-dimensional data of every building in the city, combined with satellite-based solar irradiation data. This allows for detailed, location-specific energy production estimates, right down to individual rooftops. The simulator calculates generation potential using one-metre grid cells, which helps create precise solar energy profiles for buildings across the capital. The tool goes beyond simple projections. It can simulate various solar system configurations, evaluate financial models, including net metering and feed-in tariffs and estimate storage capacity requirements. It also allows users to adjust key parameters like panel efficiency, system cost and electricity tariffs. Based on these inputs, the simulator generates reports that highlight both the financial and environmental impacts of rooftop solar PV investments.
For city officials and planners, the platform is a valuable resource for testing how different policy incentives, such as subsidies or tax breaks, could affect solar adoption at the community level. It allows them to model these scenarios and track how changes in regulations or financial support could influence energy behaviour and rooftop solar uptake. The platform also includes a portfolio feature, allowing users to assess the combined solar potential of multiple rooftops. This could be particularly useful for large businesses, real estate developers and institutions that manage more than one property.
According to GPL, the tool is part of a broader push to give Guyanese more control over their energy consumption, while encouraging investment in sustainable technology. It is also in line with the Government’s national energy strategy, which aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s electricity grid. In addition to helping households lower their electricity bills, the simulator supports the development of a cleaner, more resilient energy system.
By making solar energy assessments more accessible and data-driven, the IRENA Solar City Simulator is expected to play a key role in shaping the future of rooftop solar in Guyana. The simulator is now available to the public and can be accessed through the GPL website at www.gplinc.com.