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Setting the stage to unlock our renewable energy potential

Guyana Electrical Consultants and Associates - March 26th 2006

First let us welcome you to this our bi-monthly editorial in which we will be dealing with the energy situation in Guyana with special focus on the generation and usage of electrical energy in the most efficient manner. Emphasis will also be placed on developments in the global energy sector so as to keep the focus on the challenges we face as a non-producer of petroleum based products.

For those of you familiar with the Guyana energy situation, you will agree that a lot more can be done to better use the resources that go towards the provision of energy. Let us at this stage point out that Guyana Electrical is not into the business of casting stones or playing the blame game since this will in no way aid our mission. Instead we intend to look objectively at the energy problems confronting the nation with the aim of providing a cheap long term solution for all. At the same time we will work with the major stakeholders in the energy sector to achieve these goals.

We believe the time has come for us as a nation to become more conscious of this situation. For too long we have allowed petroleum based energy systems to dominate the energy mix. We have already spent much needed foreign exchange which could have otherwise been used for more meaningful developmental programmes. This is against the backdrop that our renewable energy potential is vastly undeveloped even though numerous studies suggest that this is a viable sector.

We welcome the news that favourable consideration is being given to the Amaila Falls Project and it is our hope that this project will act as a catalyst for the invigoration of our dormant renewable energy sector.

Our wind and solar energy sources are touted as having the potential to produce most, if not all, of our current domestic energy requirements. A move in this direction will remove the burden of having to come up with solutions to keep Guyana Power & Light afloat. It will also militate against projects such as the Unserved Areas Electrification Programme which seeks to provide electricity to recently developed housing areas.

The state’s role in this regard must be to enact the necessary legislation that will set the standards for the importation, sale and the subsequent installation of renewable energy technology. It must also put in place a rebate system (tax or otherwise) for renewable energy equipment suppliers and users for their pioneering efforts.

There also needs to be mass education of the population on the benefits (both short and long term) of renewable energy. To achieve this the print and broadcast media must be included. State agencies such as the Ministry of Education and institutions such as the University of Guyana must be included and play a part in this effort.

What we are advocating here is nothing new. It was done in Barbados which has paved the way for the widespread use of solar energy there today.

In the short term however, there needs to be a campaign on to promote energy efficiency amongst consumers. The United States did this during the oil crisis of the 1970’s and as a result the present energy consumption is far lower today than that projected prior to the oil crisis. And encapsulated in its National Energy Policy is the notion of a continuous program to improve energy efficiency as the economy grows bearing in mind the concerns of environmental advocates.

In Guyana, we don’t have to reinvent the wheel there are a number of countries to learn from. For energy efficiency, there is the Energy Star Programme in the United States of America, for hydroelectricity, there is the Venezuelan experience with the Guri Dam, for wind energy, there is the New Zealand experience, for solar power there is the Barbados experience.

Further there is the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme being undertaken by Caricom which seeks to remove the barriers to renewable energy usage in the Caribbean in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We should therefore jump on the bandwagon now given the challenges we will continue to face for continuing down our current path. The resources are readily available today!

Guyana Electrical is prepared to do our part as a good corporate citizen. Do you care to join us?

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