Millions in fuel savings expected as Trafalgar solar farm commissioned

A four megawatt peak (MWp) solar farm was commissioned by Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips on Saturday at Trafalgar, Region Five (Mahaica- Berbice).

The Trafalgar Solar Farm was constructed at an estimated cost of US$8 million, fully financed through the Guyana–Norway climate partnership, under the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund, administered by the Inter-American Development Bank.

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Kesh Nandlall, said this solar farm will increase the supply of clean energy in the ancient county.

Solar farms convert energy from the sun into electricity, making it a clean, renewable source of energy that does not rely on the burning of fossil fuels (particularly diesel).

According to Nandlall, over 1.3 million liters of diesel will be avoided once the project is fully operational. As such, Nandlall said, the Trafalgar solar project will save the public purse about $300 million annually in avoided fuel costs, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 4,000 to 5,000 tonnes every year.

“That’s not just good for the environment, it’s good for our economy,” he told the gathering at Trafalgar.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Phillips emphasised that the government will continue to invest in renewable energy as the demand for power continues to grow.

“These solar farms are a clear demonstration of our commitment to modernise Guyana’s energy sector. The Government of Guyana will continue to expand renewable energy sources for a sustainable future for all Guyanese,” the Prime Minister said.

The Trafalgar solar farm forms part of the Guyana Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Programme (GUYSOL), which is deploying 33 MW of solar capacity across Regions Two, Five, Six, and Ten. Trafalgar joins sister sites at Prospect and Hampshire in Berbice, and Onderneeming and Charity in Essequibo, as part of a coordinated national rollout of renewable energy infrastructure.