Does Guyana have a potential for hydropower?

Guyana has significant potential for hydropower, like its neighbor Suriname which has successfully developed hydro power programs. Renewable energy is viewed as a potential solution by the GoG to reduce the cost of power and provide reliable electricity.

How does Guyana generate electricity?

Guyana primarily relies on heavy fuel oil for electricity generation (Figure 9). The vertically integrated, state-owned company called Guyana Power and Light (GPL) controls almost all of the country’s electric power sector.

Is Guyana a good country for electricity?

Despite Guyana's potential in hydropower and bagasse-based power generation, Guyana's installed capacity comes primarily from diesel-engine-driven generators. This high use of fossil fuels makes the electric power sector expensive and unreliable; electricity costs average $0.32 per kilowatthour, which is among the highest in the region.

How much power does Guyana have?

Installed power generation capacity in Guyana in 2007 was 226 MW or 0.4 kW per capita, which is lower than in other countries in the region and is hardly sufficient to cover the current demand for electricity in the country. Most electricity generation uses Diesel engines to drive generators.

Why are electricity prices so high in Guyana?

Electricity prices in Guyana are the third highest in the Caribbean due in large part to the country's reliance on expensive imported oil for electricity generation. At present the cost of fuel accounts for up to 60 percent of the total cost of electricity generation.

What is the energy policy of Guyana?

The “Energy Policy of Guyana,” completed in 1994, advocates the replacement of imported petroleum, as far as possible, by indigenous renewable energy sources. Increased and more efficient use of domestic energy resources, primarily hydropower and bagasse for electricity generation, is envisaged to contribute significantly in this regard.