Energy company looks to power hinterlands – provides solutions for high energy cost
WITH more than 30 years in the business of providing affordable renewable energy for both commercial and residential needs, Solaris Energy is looking to expand operations here, mainly in the hinterland regions.The company headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago with operations in Trinidad, Barbados and St Kitts; and California and New Jersey, USA, is pushing to enable a green stamp throughout the Caribbean and beyond. Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Sales Manager Carlton DeFour said Solaris has adopted the renewable energy line as it wants to make this more accessible to the general public. This, he said will increase the carbon footprint throughout the Caribbean.
The company wants to invest in Guyana because of its size and the fact that electricity is not easily accessible in the interior regions. President David Granger in his address to the National Toshaos Council in August had pointed out that over the years the previous administration gave hinterland residents single solar panels which only lasted for a few hours. He said under his administration, through a hinterland energy development programme, all communities will be powered by solar farms, which will provide electricity to all community facilities and not just houses.
DeFour said Solaris Energy solutions fits the vision of the President, pointing out that the company will bring electricity to these communities at a far cheaper cost than if the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) were to establish operations there. “We can bring solutions to them with regards to our photovoltaic (PV) energy. They can get solar water heaters which is now a big thing in the Caribbean. We can do that by using our thermal application and we can lower the energy cost throughout the country by bring energy lights and those kinds of applications to Guyana,” he said in an interview with this publication.
High distribution cost
The Sales Manager said from studies done in Guyana, the cost for energy distribution in the outlying regions is very high, pointing out that to get power to Lethem, for example, the diesel has to be transported via the roads. “What we are saying is that if we put power system in Lethem [Region Nine] that is renewable, using the sun which is always there, that would bring the cost down and increase access to electricity,” he said, pointing that the supply will be provided 24 hours, every day of the week.
According to DeFour, a village like Kato, Region Eight, which does not have much electricity can be powered through the establish of a mini-solar farm. This, can be done, he said with an average capital investment of US$100,000, a sum he estimates to be far less than if GPL were to put down power polls, run power lines and transport fuel for generating sets in the village. For indigenous communities in general, the Sales Manager pointed out that the cost to establish operations depend on the size of the villages, but the company can work with a cost of US$50,000 and upward.
And DeFour said there is more to it. Apart from supplying electricity 24 hours, seven days a week, the electricity supplied per household is enough to power a refrigerator, television set and provide Internet access, among others. But with the development of technology, he said electricity consumption to power an air condition unit and refrigerator can be less since today since these products powered by solar energy are available on the market.
Solution for business
In Guyana, a deterrent to business has been the high cost of electricity, and according to DeFour, Solaris has the solution for this constraint. He said the company has applications that cater for light and heavy manufacturing. And it enables the provision of electricity at a lower cost, but more important, the company also specialises in the design of applications to meet the needs of businesses.
Geographically, Guyana is well positioned to capitalise on solar energy as it is close to the equator which allows it to have about 12 hours of sunlight daily. Solaris has been a regular feature at GuyExpo and the company has had discussions with the previous on a number of projects here, but none was close to finalisation.
DeFour said the company will be taking these projects to the current administration with the hope of approval. He pointed out that while no initiative was finalised, the previous government was helpful at the highest level. Solaris Energy Director of Corporate Communications Virginia Guerrero said the company has a global presence, but is headquarter in Trinidad as it loves the Caribbean which has an abundance of sunshine. Solaris Energy is an industry pioneer with more than 30 years of experience in designing, manufacturing and installing renewable energy products. Its roots are in the Caribbean, where the sun is king and it learned to harness its power. The company specialises in affordable, quality solar installations for residential and commercial needs. “We provide comprehensive solar services including evaluating why solar power is right for you,” Guerrero told this publication.
The company has installed more than 200,000 gallons in solar water heater systems throughout the Caribbean, and manufactured more than 25,000 solar water heaters at its manufacturing plant in Barbados.
By Tajeram Mohabir
