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Norway To Fund 30 MW Solar PV Capacity In Guyana

The funds that were originally planned to be spent on a 165 MW hydropower project in Guyana will now be used for the construction of solar power plants in the Latin American country. Norway has approved GYD16 billion ($77 million) for the construction of 30 MW solar and storage projects. (Photo Credit: Department of Public Information, Guyana)

Anu Bhambhani
  • Norway government has approved GYD16 billion ($77 million) for Guyana to set up solar power plants with 30 MW capacity with storage component
  • These projects will be spread across interior locations in the South American nation including Bartica, Lethem, Mabaruma, Mahdia among others

Guyana is set to start work on several solar power plants with a cumulative capacity of 30 MW combined with storage after Norway approved GYD16 billion ($77 million) to help the South American nation build this capacity. Projects, whose individual capacity is not known, will be located in Bartica, Lethem, Mabaruma, Mahdia and other interior locations.

In July 2018, the 2 countries were in talks to divert funds required for the 165 MW Amaila Falls Hydropower Project towards the construction of a 100 MW plant. Back then, Norway, Guyana and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) decided to place $80 million in a trustee account (see Hydropower Funds Directed To Solar Project).

According to Guyana's Department of Public Information (DPI) in July 2018, then Minister of State Joseph Harmon had said the country is set to benefit from close to GYD 27 billion following fruitful talks in Oslo.

In June 2018, Patterson had announced several renewable energy projects comprising solar, wind and hydro with a cumulative of 30 MW will be completed by 2020. The announcement was followed by another in July 2018 when the government said 10 hinterland villages will be equipped with utility scale solar farms instead of rooftop solar.