US$6M solar farm commissioned in Reg 6

Guyana’s push toward cleaner and more affordable energy took another major step forward on Friday with the commissioning of a US$6 million utility-scale solar farm at Hampshire on the Corentyne, Region (East Berbice-Corentyne). The facility, which delivers 3-megawatts-peak (MWp) of renewable power to the Berbice grid, is part of a national programme aimed at transforming the country’s energy matrix and reducing long-term dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The Hampshire installation is one of eight solar farms being developed under the Guyana Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaic (GUYSOL) Programme, a US$83.3 million investment funded through the Guyana-Norway climate partnership, with implementation support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The GUYSOL initiative will add 33-MWp of solar generation to Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) distributed as 8-MWp in Region Two; 10-MWp across Regions Five and Six; and 15-MWp in Region 10. Located about one mile off the Hampshire Public Road, the 3-MW solar farm spans several acres and is engineered to meet international standards for durability and grid stability. Nearly 5,000 photovoltaic (PV) panels have been installed on 900 steel piles designed to withstand extreme weather, including winds of up to 244 km/h. The project feeds electricity into the Berbice grid via a newly constructed 13.8-kilovolt (kV) transmission line and is expected to supply approximately 4,800 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean energy each year. This will significantly reduce diesel consumption and lower operational costs for Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL).

Action, not rhetoric
In commissioning the facility on Friday, Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips said the project demonstrates Guyana’s resolve to lead by action, not rhetoric, in the global transition to renewable energy. “This facility sends a clear message to our people, to Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and to the world, that Guyana is serious about transitioning to cleaner energy sources,” he declared. The PM noted that the solar farm was being commissioned at a time when world leaders are gathered in Belém, Brazil, for the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) discussing global climate commitments. He said Guyana continues to demonstrate that small developing states can contribute meaningfully to the fight against climate change, even as they remain net carbon sinks. “Guyana stores more carbon than we emit. Yet we continue to invest and act. Leadership is not what you claim, leadership is what you do, “he emphasised. Phillips stressed that while Guyana is advancing ambitious renewable-energy plans, the country cannot transition alone. He called for “fair, predictable and accessible climate financing” to help developing nations scale renewable projects while expanding their economies.

Long-term energy vision
Outlining the Government’s long-term energy vision, the PM said Guyana’s transition is guided by three pillars, natural gas as a reliable, low-emission transition fuel; hydropower as a sustainable source of base-load clean energy and distributed solar and wind for greater resilience and nationwide coverage.
“These pillars form a multi-lane highway. Solar, hydro, wind and natural gas, each lane carries us toward the same destination: affordable, reliable, low-carbon energy for a rapidly growing Guyana,” he said.
Phillips said energy demand on the national grid is projected to triple by 2028 compared to 2022 levels. “No single energy source can carry that load,” he cautioned, underscoring the need for diversification. The PM described the drive toward cheaper power not merely as an economic strategy, but a moral one. “Affordable energy is a form of social justice. When energy is costly and unreliable, families suffer. Children suffer. Small businesses suffer.” Lowering the cost of electricity, he said, boosts productivity, stimulates economic growth and ensures that development reaches every region equitably.

“Confidence, momentum and hope”
Phillips said the commissioning of the Hampshire solar farm represents “confidence, momentum and hope” as Guyana accelerates its energy transition. “This project is proof that Guyana’s transition is real, measurable and accelerating. It is not cosmetic. Every solar farm we switch on pushes us further toward a sustainable future where prosperity is shared,” the PM asserted. He also congratulated the contractors: SUMEC, Complete Equipment and Engineering Limited, and XJ Group, for completing the facility on schedule, and praised the IDB and the Government of Norway for their continued partnership.