Guyana launches 34MWh tender for battery energy storage alongside solar PV – EQ Mag
Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has launched bidding for an EPC contract to develop utility-scale solar capacity and associated battery energy storage.
The process is for eight photovoltaic plants and storage systems totaling 33MWp and 34MWh, respectively, in three lots: Berbice, Linden and Essequibo.
A pre-bid meeting and site visit will be held on January 13 and offers are due by March 7, according to the procurement notice.
The country’s vice president, Bharrat Jagdeo, recently announced the planned call, and GPL told BNamericas earlier this year of the proposed launch.
In September, the government and IDB signed an agreement for financing of up to US$83.3mn from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation to support the solar build-out.
Most of the country’s electricity comes from fuel oil-fired power plants with renewables limited to small-scale, off-grid units. Last month, the Guyana Energy Agency awarded a contract for the 1.5MW Kumu and 0.7MW Moco Moco hydro projects.
Guyana’s low-carbon development strategy envisions that renewable energies will account for over 70% of installed generation capacity by 2040. During the transition, the government has pinned hopes on the use of natural gas to boost baseload power and reduce electric bills and emissions.
GPL has forecast that electricity consumption and peak demand in 2026 will reach 3,300GWh and 502MW from this year’s projected 1,257GWh and 197MW.
The power utility also has tenders underway to build a 25MW heavy fuel oil-fired power generation plant and to supply 50MW of baseload generation via a 5-10 year power purchase agreement.
Source: bnamericas
