Georgetown December 13th, 2018:   The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), in collaboration with the IDB and the Hinterland Electrification Company Inc. (HECI), hosted a public seminar on ‘Solar Water Heaters for the Hotel and Hospitality Sector’ on Thursday, December 13, 2018 at the National Conference Centre, Plantation Le Ressouvenir, E.C.D.

Specifically targeting persons within the hotel and hospitality sector, the seminar sought not only to educate persons on the advantages of solar water heaters, but also to create a platform that merges the realms of technology, financing and green tourism.

Minister Patterson in his opening remarks said that the seminar was “….in keeping with the country’s energy policy and strategic direction of the Government of the Cooperative of Guyana and remains committed to ensuring that stable, reliable and economic supply of energy is provided to all persons in Guyana while reducing our dependence on imported fossil fuels and utilizing our domestic energy resources…”

Dr. Sharma during the welcome and opening remarks stated that part of the objective of the activity was to “….facilitate a dialogue that would enable businesses within the tourism and hospitality sector to take tangible actions to incorporate renewable energy and energy efficiency technology. He also posited that “…the GEA was specifically interested in discussing how businesses in this sector can achieve 100% of water heating needs being met by renewable energy.

In an effort to understand energy consumption patterns and energy conservation opportunities, GEA has committed to prepare Energy Assessment reports to assist the Hotels in prioritizing their investment decisions. Follow-up engagements will also be arranged to explore financing opportunities. A key output of the seminar was to reach consensus on a timeline for the hotels to replace electric water heaters with solar water heaters. GEA was very pleased to learn that some of the hotels had already converted to using solar water heaters while others have signed a declaration committing to adopt the renewable energy technology between the years 2019 to 2022.

 The Guyana Energy Agency will continue to work with the hotel and hospitality sector by providing support and guidance where necessary to enable businesses within the tourism and hospitality sector to take tangible actions to incorporate renewable energy and energy efficiency technology.

Minister David Patterson delivering remarks at the Seminar.

Some of the participants.