As part of its mandate to develop and encourage the development and utilisation of sources of energy, other than sources presently in use, Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) Engineers with assistance from GIZ/REETA have completed the feasibility study, design and bid documents for redevelopment of a defunct micro hydropower plant at Hosororo.
The main objectives of the project are: To increase the energy mix of the Mabaruma electrical grid with a clean and renewable source of energy; To gain experience in applying hydropower engineering and other multi-disciplinary concepts for sustainable rural electrification; to gain understanding of run-of-the-river hydro technology and to promote and increase the use of renewable energy in Guyana.
A 3D drawing of the micro-hydropower plant
The Hosororo site is situated at the Hosororo Creek about 4.6 km bees flight to the south-west of Mabaruma, Region One, in the north of Guyana.
In 1985, a study done by Terrence Fletcher and Associates Limited studied the option to install a hydropower plant at the creek and supply electricity to an agricultural produce processing facility to be built nearby. In the late 1980’s, a powerhouse with a turbine of reportedly 5 kW capacity was installed using the upper of two existing concrete weirs. The project was abandoned some years after its inauguration for reasons that are still unclear.
The Mabaruma Power and Light Company Inc. currently supplies power to about 735 households with generators supplying about 400kW peak load. The Hinterland Electrification Company Inc (HECI) is in the process of procuring and installing a 400kW solar photovoltaic farm. The hydropower plant will only be supplying about 20kW towards meeting the demand of the community. The plant, conceptualised by GEA’s Engineers, will entail the construction of a 20kW run-of-the-river type micro hydropower plant inclusive of weir/intake, penstock and power house. Electricity from the new plant will be fed directly to the distribution network of the local power utility MPLCI and will provide about eight percent of the annual energy demand of 735MWh. The power system incorporating diesel, solar and hydro would be the first hybrid system of such diversity providing energy in Guyana. The computed Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) was USD 0.31 per kWh compared to the cost of generation from fossil-based diesel is about USD 0.50 per kWh.
GEA has commenced the tendering process, by inviting bids for the construction and installation works of the project. It is expected that the works will commence in July 2017 and be completed by March 2018.