GPL to equip Linden power grid with state-of-the-art energy management system

As the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) works assiduously to develop the country’s energy infrastructure, the company has poured significant investments into the mining town of Linden in Region 10 (Upper-Demerara Upper-Berbice).
The town is expected to soon be equipped with a state-of-the-art energy management system. This information was revealed by Program Coordinator of the Program Execution Unit of the Guyana Power and Light Inc., Amir Dillawar, during an appearance at Linden’s recent Statutory Meeting.
Dillawar told representatives of the council that the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) will be investing significantly to develop the regions energy infrastructure. He highlighted that, in the near future, the region’s energy mix would comprise of 15 megawatts of solar power with the construction of three solar farms.
He highlighted that these farms will be supported by a modern energy management system.
“As you know, the new LECI or the upgraded LECI substation is currently under construction. We will be deploying these farms that are going to be remotely controlled and operated from that substation, and they will also be able to be operated and controlled from the farm itself. What that means is we’re going to bring something called an energy management system, which is a digitization of the energy infrastructure at the substation.”
“Terence doesn’t need to go to the substation at 12 o’clock to take recordings any more. The operator would be able to see what the power that is being delivered is, what the load and the feeder is, what power is coming over from the third-party supplier. All of this information is going to be present right there in the substation control room,”he explained.
Apart from interments towards digitizing and modernizing the regions energy infrastructure, Dillawar revealed that his organization will be allocating resources to develop skills within the region.
“We have what is known as an Energy Apprenticeship Program. This Energy Apprenticeship Program is where we take young professionals, persons with degrees, diplomas, and we second them or attach them to my execution unit, and we also rotate them to GPL, and we give them hands-on experience in this type of work, in executing these types of projects,” he said.
With an objective to train and improve, this initiative will specifically target young individuals that are new to the field.
Another initiative he highlighted was the ‘Women in Solar Apprenticeship’ programme. This initiative intends to target women from project areas, and equip them with the skills needed to install and operate and maintain solar PV systems.
According to Dillawar the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) has already acquired an international trainer to facilitate the programme.
“We already procured an internationally certified training provider that will be doing this training, and we’re currently in the phase of procuring or launching the recruitment of the women in question.”
Meanwhile earlier it was revealed that an 8-megawatt solar PV farm – the largest of its kind – will be constructed in the mining town of Linden in Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice).