Georgetown, GINA, Monday, September 1, 2003
A feasibility study on the use of wind energy in Guyana’s
Electricity sector has been concluded. Today, the Guyana Energy
Authority at a press conference said that studies were done at
Hope Beach and the Georgetown Seawall foreshore areas.
Head of the Guyana Energy Agency, Mr. Joseph O’Lall said
Government has supported the study of the use of renewable energy.
He said that Guyana has been pursuing renewable energy for a significant
number of years and serious consideration is being given for its
use.
The Energy Agency boss said renewable energy is being examined
comprehensively. He added that hydropower and eco-generation at
Skeldon are also being looked at. O’Lall added that solar
energy to deliver electricity in remote interior areas is being
examined. He said that renewable energy is more affordable and
more environmentally friendly.
O’Lall added that this project takes Guyana one step closer
to utilizing its indigenous resources, while reducing the national
oil bill. The Government of Guyana, O’lall said, expends
over U.S.$100M per year on the import of fuel.
Director of NuPlanet Clean Energy, the consultant on the project,
Mr. Tony van Engelen, said that the study has come up with one
main conclusion, being that it is feasible to provide wind energy
in Guyana. He said the use of wind towers would provide a reduction
of the structural power deficit, the utilization of an indigenous
energy source (wind) and a reduction in oil imports among other
benefits.
The study is recommending that twelve medium-sized wind turbines
at Hope Beach and five large wind turbines at the Georgetown foreshore
be constructed. The Hope Beach turbines would each have a generating
capacity of 950 Kilowatts and will be constructed to a total of
US$13.9M.
The turbines at the Georgetown foreshore site would each have
a generating capacity of 1650 kilowatts and will be constructed
at the cost of US$12.3M, a total cost of US$26.2M for the construction
of both sites. The towers at both sites would contain a height
of 220 feet.
Van Engelen said that some of the benefits of constructing the
turbines will be new generating capacity, 60 jobs for the construction
process, four permanent jobs for highly trained technicians and
a more environmental friendly means of generating energy for the
supply of electricity.
He said the next steps will be for the developer, Delta Caribbean
N.V., to secure a power purchase agreement, obtain all required
licenses and permits, finalise financing and the construction
process. O’Lall said that Government is encouraging and
willing to facilitate private Sector involvement in investing
in the project. That includes assistance in getting the local
banks on board if the need arises.
The Dutch consultant, who was hired by the Dutch Government as
a goodwill gesture to the Government and people of Guyana, gave
a time schedule ranging from the selection of the site to the
completion of construction, from September, 2003 to November,
2004.
He concluded that wind energy is cheaper and wind plants are feasible.
Mahendra Sharma, Director of the Non-conventional Energy Unit
of the Guyana Energy Agency, said that the project is multi-disciplinary.
He said that the involvement of environmental, social, economical
and technical stake-holders is necessary.
Once successful, the utilization of wind energy will result in
less Government spending on importing fuel and a minimal reduction
in electricity rates for consumers. O’lall said that the
reduction in rates will be minimal because a large percentage
of the energy capacity of the GPL would continue to come from
fuel generated sources.
The turbines would generate energy that will subsequently be fed
into the national grid system for transmission and distribution
purposes.
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