Govt pursuing people-centred transition to clean energy – PM Phillips

…says major investments for projects in hinterland communities

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips has said that the Guyana Government has a dynamic path for the country’s energy transformation by not only harnessing energy in innovative ways but also ensuring that people were placed at the centre of this transition to clean and renewable sources.
He made this remark at the International Energy Conference and Expo, which is being held under the theme “Charting a Sustainable Energy Future” at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown. The four-day event wraps up today.

Speaking on Guyana’s clean energy transition, the Prime Minister posited that Government was committed to providing affordable, stable, and reliable energy to benefit everyone while simultaneously reducing the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuels for electricity generation. This, he noted, is outlined in the country’s revised Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030.
“Our Government will pursue a strategy of developing low-carbon energy resources like solar, hydro, wind, natural gas and biomass to meet the rapidly-rising energy demand while keeping greenhouse gas emissions low. Under the strategy, we will advance an energy mix that will lead to more than 500 megawatts of newly-installed capacity over the next five years,” Phillips stated.
According to the Prime Minister, who has responsibility for the country’s energy sector, Guyana’s energy transition will be phased over the next decade with three components – the first being from 2022 to 2027 during which the much-anticipated Gas-to-Shore and Amaila Falls Hydropower projects are slated to come onstream.
The second phase, up to 2030, will see these two energy sources being further enhanced with the expansion of wind and solar power as the country continues to replace heavy fuel oil.

Hinterland energy access
However, as part of Government’s aggressive energy transition programme, plans are afoot to develop the country’s Indigenous energy resources while also addressing energy security concerns with the aim of advancing climate change mitigation efforts and promoting sustainable energy solutions.
To this end, PM Phillips said several projects are currently underway to improve energy access for hinterland communities in Guyana.
“Projects are on the way to improve people-centred energy access through investments in solar PV systems for off-grid areas and the development of micro grids for large hinterland areas leading to the expansion of our Hinterland Electrification Programme,” he stated.
These projects, he noted, will see the installation of 13 utility-scale solar PV farms, 30,000 solar home systems for hinterland and riverine communities, 20 solar PV mini-grids for hinterland public buildings and more than 180 solar PV standalone systems for the Government Information Communications Technology (ICT) hubs.
“These solar PV installations will result in approximately 46.4 megawatts of installed solar PV capacity and are expected to be commissioned within the next two years,” he indicated.

In addition to solar, the Prime Minister further outlined to stakeholders that Government was pursuing small, mini and micro hydropower systems for hinterland communities.
“A total of 2.35 megawatts of hydropower capacity will be added to serve hinterland communities by 2024. Our Government’s Hinterland Electrification Programme aims to electrify some 200 unserved and underserved communities by 2026 using the most technical and economically feasible solutions that will include the enhancement of the productive usages of energy,” he added.
The Prime Minister went on to point out that access to sustainable energy for everyone has far-reaching economic, environmental and social benefits.
“Consequently, in addition to serving domestic needs, it is important to link rural electrification efforts to productive activities such as ICT connectivity, commerce and agro-processing to allow for greater community involvement, retention of skills in the communities and long-term sustainability,” he stated.

Behavioural change
Some $29.4 billion has been allocated in Budget 2022 to accelerate Guyana’s transition to cleaner sources of energy and to boost its capacity for increased generation in order to meet rising demand.
PM Phillips contended that behavioural change was essential in this transition to sustainable energy. This, he added, can lead to improved efficiency, less wastage, and a significant reduction in energy consumption.
“Increased efficiency can reduce the need for investments in energy infrastructure leading to savings in energy bills, reductions in the country’s oil import bill, increase competitiveness and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in 2022,” Phillips stated.
On this note, he said the distribution and installation of 22,000 LED bulbs and 12,000 LED tubes to households, businesses, and Government buildings would be undertaken this year. The Prime Minister said this initiative would help to reduce their carbon footprint and trigger behavioural change.
Added to this, the Prime Minister further highlighted the need for low-carbon transportation infrastructure to reduce the demand for imported fossil fuels for vehicular transport. To encourage this transition, Government will be fostering the development of an electric vehicle industry while enhancing the ability of the electric grid to integrate high levels of intermittent renewable energy.
As a result, the installation of new fast-charging stations for electric vehicles will be piloted this year in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) with more to come in the future.
In fact, Budget 2022 includes some $31.6 million as a catalyst for e-mobility. (G8)