Solar system in Guyana

Apr 21, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor,

Attached are a few images to verify the points I have to make. Quite a number of people have expressed their interest in getting a solar system for their house and many professionals have indicated that Guyana has a fairly decent weather condition for people to live strictly solar and government should show more interest in solar. I’ve successfully set up a few farms in the Lower Pomeroon River, and around Georgetown. With a minimum of two batteries, and four panels, one house can power its fridge, pump water, use washing machines, and use several other electrical appliances during the day. Going to a store that supplies, they would give you a list of things that are recommended, and in the end, the cost could amount to over $1.5 million.
Basically, for someone to go solar, there are three methods available: (1) Grid-tie system, which does not require any battery, but the power company has to install a special metre, which would reverse the metre, sending the excess power to attain from the sun to their system and the power is return when the sun is available, especially at nights. So, your electricity bill will be very low or the utility company has to pay you (not certain how far GPL is with this), and when you have power outages, the system shut down completely. (2) Off-Grid system, which requires batteries, and based on the amount, you get power 24hrs a day without GPL. (3) Hybrid system, which works with both battery and GPL power. Each of these set-ups uses different types of inverters.
Editor, basically, based on what type of system you use, a battery might be needed, the solar panels, charge controllers, and inverters or there’s all in one charge controller/inverter available. There are many people offering services towards solar and many choose to supply and install to which less headache is expected, but when you receive the bill, the real headache starts.
If you are not cautious, some would give you a list of things they would supply, and during the process, change their plans. There’s one person who did business with a company advertising on Facebook and upon completion, inform the person that there’s a shortage of batteries and a shipment is expected and when it comes in, they will receive the other battery. Now many people dealing with batteries would tell you that you cannot add new batteries to old batteries, because it would reduce the new battery to the old battery’s condition/stage. Meanwhile, the company is advertising they have a new shipment of batteries, but the individual is still awaiting the other battery months now. In addition, many cheap Chinese inverter and charge controllers are selling that malfunction, which I highlighted in a previous letter.
Finally, Editor, because the system is so complicated and corrupt in Guyana, I advise most of my clients to make their purchases overseas and would provide the links to make the purchase. One of my main concerns is the astronomical price tag for these items. A charge controller sells online for around GY$60,000 and if you go to a reputable store locally to purchase similar, depending on which store, you have to pay between $180,000 – $400,000. There are various types of batteries available locally, but some stores still sell the Gel Battery at an extremely high price, even though the technology for that type has proven to be a failure, some not lasting four years and cannot be repaired, so they stop manufacturing them. In a nutshell, because many are not properly familiar with the solar system, they are either being scared away, ripped off, or forced to pay an astronomical figure for a useless system. There should be bodies set up to assist/advise people who want to go solar, Government should encourage people that the system will be easily available if they supply power to the Grid they will be paid for excess power, and stop making it complicated. There are thousands of houses in the outskirts and hinterland regions, space out communities, without electricity, and despite their glorious plans, there’s no indication that these communities will get electricity soon.

Sahadeo Bates

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Solar system in Guyana

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Solar system in Guyana

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