Onderneeming, Charity residents to benefit from mega solar project

Residents of Onderneeming and Charity, both communities in Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam) will benefit from a mega solar farm project that should be completed by December 2025.

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Anthony Phillips on Thursday led a sod-turning ceremony in Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast for the installation of an eight megawatt-peak (MWp) solar photovoltaic (PV) system.

This solar project will also include 12MWp of battery storage.

The solar farm will directly benefit two key areas: Onderneeming, which will receive five MWp of solar energy backed by 7.5MWp of battery storage, and Charity, which will benefit from three MWp of solar energy supported by 4.5MWp of battery storage.

The project marks a significant step towards Guyana’s commitment to clean energy as part of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 targets.

This initiative is part of GUYSOL, a program funded through Guyana’s earnings from forest services under the Guyana-Norway Agreement.

The Inter-American Development Bank administers the program, while the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) is responsible for its execution. GUYSOL aims to install 33MWp of solar PV systems across the country by 2026, with a total investment of US$83.3 million.

Regional officials, including Regional Chairperson Vilma De Silva, Regional Vice Chairman Humace Oodit and Regional Executive Officer Susanah Saywack, were present at the event.

The solar farm is set to become one of the largest in the country and is seen as a milestone in Guyana’s transition to renewable energy.