Guyana’s Energy Sector — Part One

Jun 12, 2016 News

By Kiana Wilburg

Based on statistics, Guyana’s Energy Sector seems has been significantly active. In fact, a total of 5,001,497 barrels of petroleum-based products were imported in 2015 representing about 13,703 barrels per day (bpd). This represents a 1.27 percent increase when compared to 2014. Petroleum imports for the year were acquired at a cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value of US$355,201,732 representing a decrease of 36.76 percent from that of the previous year.
Twenty-six percent or 834,056 barrels (2,285 bpd) of total imports were obtained under the PetroCaribe Agreement during 2015. There were increases in the consumption of Mogas (gasoline), Kerosene, Avjet, Fuel Oil and LPG (cooking gas) with reductions in the consumption of Diesel and Aviation Gasoline. Notably, consumption of Avjet and Fuel Oil increased by 32.58 percent and 5.11 percent respectively.
The average cost per barrel of petroleum-based imports decreased from US$113.72 in 2014 to US$71.02 in 2015, a decrease of 37.55 percent. This downward trend also continued for the average unit CIF value for each petroleum product. There were decreases of 32.85%, 37.91% and 38.95% in the average unit CIF value (US$/bbl) for Mogas (gasoline), Gasoil (diesel) and Jet fuel/Kerosene respectively. In addition, the average unit CIF value for Fuel oil, Aviation Gasoline and LPG also decreased by 42.08%, 22.31% and 34.13%, respectively.

SOLAR ENERGY
1,164 kW of solar photovoltaic capacity was documented as being the total installed capacity in Guyana producing an estimated 2,125 MWh of energy annually.
Building on the experiences of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA)’s solar PV grid-tied system, GEA, through competitive bidding, procured a 10 kWp solar PV system for the Agency’s head office. This will result in additional annual savings of $920,000 and avoid carbon dioxide emissions of 8.8 tons annually.
During 2015, GEA’s Engineers installed 11 energy efficient LED solar-powered street lights, bringing the total number of installed solar-powered street lights to 13 and resulting in annual savings of about $800,000 per year.
GEA’s Engineers, during the year, repaired and rehabilitated a total of 1.655 kW of solar PV equipment at four schools.

HYDROPOWER
The GEA, with support from the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) coordinated with other Arco Norte countries to gather information to support an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-funded pre-feasibility study to explore the possibility of an electrical interconnection and generation expansion project involving Guyana, Brazil, Suriname and French Guiana.
Fifteen visits were conducted at eight hydropower sites in five different Regions during the year. As part of the GEA programme to encourage and demonstrate the use of renewable sources of energy, a number of activities were completed at the Hosororo, Region One hydropower site. Collection and analysis of water level data and watershed delineations were also done at the Kumu site, Region Nine.

WIND ENERGY
GEA continued to monitor and record wind data (speed and direction) at four sites: Port Mourant, Kumu, Mahdia and the University of Guyana.
GEA also assisted the Hinterland Electrification Company Inc. (HECI) in selection and evaluation of fifteen potential wind sites along Guyana’s coast, where the best four will be chosen to carry out wind measurements.

BIOMASS ENERGY
In exploring the use of rice husk biomass to generate electricity, a 400kW/hr gasification system was installed in Region 2 (Pomeroon – Supenaam) by a private rice miller. The project was installed with the assistance of The Energy Research Institute (TERI) and support from the Government of India.
100 energy efficient wood stoves purchased in 2014 were distributed and demonstrated at a pilot scale to 10 households in 10 hinterland communities.
Additionally, 10 energy efficient institutional wood stoves were also demonstrated and distributed to nine hinterland residential schools/institutes. The energy efficient design will result in an 80% reduction in firewood consumption versus the open fire.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Engineers from the GEA and Ministry of Public Infrastructure replaced 37 high pressure sodium vapour (HPSV) street lamps rated at 250 watts with energy efficient Induction Lamps rated at 120 watts. It is estimated that $1,173,000 would be saved annually and 14.7 tons of CO2 emissions would be avoided. Ten (10) energy efficient LED street lamps rated at 80 watts, 100 watts, and 120 watts replaced ten 250 watts high pressure sodium lamps.
Sixty-five 100 watts LED street lamps were procured as part of the Agency’s ongoing effort to promote energy efficient street lighting and replace existing 250 watts HPSV street lamps. It is estimated that $1,468,000 would be saved annually when the lamps are installed.
With support from the Work Services Group, a total of 300 defective photo sensors on street lights were replaced as part of GEA’s efforts to conserve energy, translating into annual energy savings of about $18.2 million.
GEA completed Energy Consumption Assessments of 70 buildings in the last three years along with the change-out of inefficient lighting at 28 buildings.

RESEARCH
Engineers of the GEA conducted research in a number of areas: hydropower, natural gas, vapour recovery systems, biomass, wood waste potential, energy potential from rice husk, gasification systems, refrigerant replacement, solar powered and energy efficient street lights.
GEA conducted several visits to the Town of Bartica based on government’s mandate to transform the area into a ‘Green Town’. Energy assessments targeted at government buildings and schools with the aim to reduce energy consumption, assessed the potential for roof top grid tie and standalone solar PV installation were conducted.
GEA also identified a suitable location to conduct wind measurement and is currently awaiting the relevant approval to install a wind mast.
To be continued …