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Solar power is the way to go, but get products from the USA

Apr 27, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

It was pretty interesting to reading Alfred Bhulai’s letter regarding solar in Guyana in the newspapers. Whilst his calculations are somewhat accurate, I have a few points to make.

The price quote is from China and as he said, shipping by container is very cheap, but an average house doesn’t require an entire container of solar equipment to power the house. People don’t need to use LiFePO4 (Lithium) batteries for their systems. Lithium batteries could be drained out completely while the acid batteries lose their lifespan, if they continuously go beyond the halfway. Because they are cheaper, you could buy more and add to the battery bank to avoid that.

Editor, I’ve mentioned before that people contacted me to install a solar system, and based on their budget, I make recommendations on which they should purchase. I’ve set up numerous systems in the Pomeroon River area, West Coast Demerara, and Georgetown, and all are working trouble-free, some for over five years.  I’ve discontinued using Gel batteries because it’s a failed technology and would never advise anyone to purchase/use it. The Rolls acid batteries are extremely cheap, and with proper maintenance, could last 10-15 years or more. A 6volts-200amps LiFePO4 costs around seven hundred and forty-two thousand dollars, whilst a Rolls 6volts – 235amps battery costs around forty-four thousand dollars in Guyana.

The price quote by Alfred for a panel is almost three times the cost here in Guyana, and sadly, you have to check the quality/makers/suppliers because you could end up buying a waste, which is bountiful here. I say that, from experience, because I go around quoting prices and checking quality whenever I get a chance. I recommend vital equipment be purchased from the USA and shipped here because I believe solar equipment is duty-free, way cheaper and they are of better quality than the garbage being dumped in Guyana because there is no proper quality testing being conducted on them here.  The inverters/charge controllers could be programmed to shut down when the battery level reaches around 60%, and what I’ve noticed is that people tend to be more cautious in terms of energy consumption. There’s no fluctuation of voltage unless an errant person interferes, so electrical appliances tend to last longer.

Finally Editor, the government is chosen by the people to govern a country and make life easier/simpler for the people, but it’s my humble opinion, the Government of Guyana is not doing enough, and because they have the power, they can intimidate and shut down feasible ideas from their agenda. Because they are the decision-makers, they know firsthand every development plan and could manipulate the system in such a way as to cause delays whilst their friends and families could set a foundation to reap easily, when the time is right.

At present, an individual with close ties to this government is doing a huge investment as a venture into solar systems and Guyana to garner the majority of government contracts. Whilst another has already imported a huge amount of solar equipment to convert his entire empire into solar, which is estimated it would run to around one hundred million. They already know that Guyana would not benefit from cheap electricity anytime soon and the system is already manipulated to their favor! Why must we wait some 30 years to enjoy cheap electricity in an oil-rich country?

Yours faithfully,

Sahadeo Bates

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