Renewable

Island of Wakenaam

Wakenaam is an island of about 17.5 square miles (45 km2) at the mouth of the Essequibo River of Guyana. One of the largest islands (the others being Leguan and Hogg Island) in the Essequibo Islands group, it was settled at one time by the Dutch in the 18th century; the name Wakenaam is Dutch meaning waiting for a name and still contains old Dutch graves at various locations on the island.

Project info

  • Client : Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL)
  • Tags : Solar Energy, Renewable, Guyana
  • Start Date : 06 October 2023
  • Handover : In progress
Description

The Guyana Power and Light company GPL has been donated a solar PV plant through the UAE-CREF program to provide the island of Wakenaam in Guyana with green energy.

The UAE-CREF is a partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC), Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar). ADFD fully finances the UAE-CREF.

The 750kW solar plant with a battery energy storage system which is integrated with the current diesel generators will be self grid forming so that the island will run primarily on solar energy and will be supplemented if necessary with the diesel generators