Guyana Advances Utility-Scale Solar Expansion with $83.3 Million BID-Funded GUYSOL Program

Guyana’s government, in collaboration with the IDB, recently launched an international competitive bidding process for the engineering, procurement, and construction of three ground-mounted utility-scale solar PV systems totaling 15 MWp with 22 MWh battery storage in Linden. This Lot 2 tender of the GUYSOL program invites qualified international contractors to bid under strict compliance with public procurement and eligibility guidelines, including proof of technical and financial capacity. A mandatory site visit and pre-bid meeting is scheduled for August 2024, with bids due by September 26, 2024. The tender stipulates a non-refundable bid document fee and a $250,000 bid guarantee.

The GUYSOL program, supported by the Guyana-Norway partnership, encompasses eight solar projects across Berbice (10 MWp), Essequibo (8 MWp with minimum 12 MWh storage), and Linden (15 MWp with 22 MWh storage), totaling 33 MWp and 34 MWh capacity. These projects aim to reduce carbon emissions, decrease generation costs, and improve grid reliability through automation and digitalization, especially in the isolated systems of Essequibo and Linden.

Earlier phases include the recently commissioned 5 MWp solar plant in Onderneeming with 7.5 MWh energy storage, increasing regional capacity from 16 MW to 22.5 MW. Furthermore, a $38 million contract was signed with Chinese firm SUMEC to build additional solar parks in Regions 2, 5, and 6, funded by the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund and IDB. The initiative incorporates social programs targeting skill development and inclusion, particularly training women and people with disabilities in solar system maintenance.

GUYSOL aligns with Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 and IDB’s Vision 2025, projecting improved electricity supply reliability for over 265,000 customers and enhancing sustainability by displacing fossil fuels in the national energy mix.