GEA AND AUTHENTIX PARTNER TO INSTALL SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS AT PRESIDENT’S COLLEGE
THE Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), in partnership with Authentix Inc.,recently installedt hree (3) stand-alone Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems to provide energy efficient backup lighting with motion/occupancy sensors in the three dormitories at President’s College.Solar PV systems have gained increased importance as a renewable source of energy due to their many advantages, such as little maintenance, no noise, and no pollution.
Further, the abundance of sunshine in Guyana makes the use of solar photovoltaic systems technically sound and environmentally feasible, especially given that solar energy is renewable and sustainable.
Prior to the installation of the three solar photovoltaic systems, there was no alternative or backup electricity supply in the event of a utility failure.
Loss of power would have resulted in much frustration and inconvenience, and would have negatively impacted the resident students at nights. Power outages at nights result in disruption of activities,such as studying, doing assignments and School Based Assessments (SBA’s), which in turn may have a negative impact on academic performance at the institution.
Hence, an alternative supply of electricity for lighting during power outages was needed to:
– Provide lighting for security purposes during power outages,
– Enable students to complete assignments, homework and projects in a timely manner,and
– Facilitate studying at nights during power outages.
Designed by Brian Constantine, one of GEA’s Energy Engineers, the solar photovoltaic system provides lighting in priority areas, such as the living quarters, washrooms,apartments and corridors, in each dormitory, and would be for use onlyin cases of emergency or backup.“The system was designed based on the energy use (demand) at each dorm in the event of a utility failure to provide energy efficient lighting on demand using motion/occupancy sensors”, said Constantine. He further added that “…the energy demand was based on the number of lights (approximately 44 lights per dorm) and the resulting usage time of each light in the various areas.”
Based on the preceding criterion, the battery bank was computed to be just over 500Ah, with assumptions of 3% losses in the wiring and 10% loss in the inverter. The system was configured using 2 batteries connected in parallel, thereby supplying 12V. Pure sine wave inverters rated at 1000W were selected to provide the AC power to the energy efficient lights in each dorm.
Occupancy sensors were employed along the corridors of each dormitory to ensure operation of the hallway lights only when needed.Sustainability of these systems will be ensured, since each inverter is equipped with a low voltage disconnect, thereby preventing overuse of the system.
The system overall cost two million, eight hundred and ninety-one thousand,three hundred and twenty-eight dollars (G$2,891,328). Authentix provided funding for the project to the tune of US$10,000- the equivalent of G$2,090,000. Along with the design, technical oversight and installation, the GEA provided solar panels, inverters, and other support to the value of eight hundred and one thousand, three hundred and twenty-eight dollars (G$801,328) , which was needed to complete the project.
According to Dr. Mahender Sharma, CEO of the Guyana Energy Agency, “The installation represents a culmination of the learning over the last few years, whereby GEA’s Engineers, using appropriate and energy efficient technologies along with their experiences in sustainable energy development, are able to translate that knowledge to help the students.”
Authentix, being the company who provides the ‘marking chemical’ for GEA’s Fuel Marking Programme, and GEA have had a partnership since 2003, when the Programme commenced. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas USA, Authentix enables brand owners and governments to build market confidence and maximize revenue by authenticating products to combat counterfeiting, protect brand equity, and assure programme integrity.
The company has said that, given that many of its employees are scientists and engineers, they are aware that a good education is the foundation for a lifetime of success. The project for the President’s College students therefore offered the organization “…a great opportunity to help a new generation of scholars, as the renewable-energy system would ensure that the students have the lighting needed to complete their assignments and to benefit from cutting-edge solar and lighting technology”.
“One of our company values is to advance science and technology for a better world,” said Bernard C. Bailey Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of Authentix.
“As we have been working with the GEA for more than a decade, we are thrilled to be able to provide these students with advanced solar and lighting technology to support their studies”, he further posited.
The Guyana Energy Agency expressed heartfelt gratitude to Authentix for its partnership in the execution of this project.
“Authentix willingly came on board to finance this project, which speaks to their commitment towards advancing science and technology as part of their mandate states. I therefore take this opportunity to thank the company on behalf of GEA, the Principal, students and teachers of President’s College. Their support and partnership were invaluable, and contributed significantly to the success of this project”,said Dr.Mahender Sharma, CEO of GEA.
President’s College, which is located at Golden Grove on the East Coast of Demerara, was founded in 1985. The institution has three dormitories which accommodate students from all regions across Guyana. At present, about 250 students are resident at the college.
GEA remains committed, in keeping with its mandate, to developing and encouraging the development and utilisation of alternative sources of energy in the execution of the vision to provide reliable energy that is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable for all in Guyana.
