How much does electricity cost in Suriname?

In Suriname, according to the national electrical utility, the actual total cost of electricity is the main power system is 13 US cents/kWh, including generation, transmission, operational and maintenance costs. In 2018, only the cost of fuels and lubricants used in the Heavy Fuel Oil power plant, was 8 US$ cents/kWh.

Will solar energy be cheaper in Suriname?

The price of solar energy has been dropping dramatically during last 20 years and the projections suggest that it will maintain that trend in the coming years. In a near future, solar energy in Suriname will be cheaper than the electricity coming conventional fossil fuel plants.

How to start a solar power plant in Suriname?

The Electricity Act 2016 in Suriname states that utility scale solar plants shall be introduced by organizing a tender process and by signing Power Purchase Agreement between the energy company and the owner of the solar or wind power plants.

Why is solar energy important in Suriname?

Additionally, in Suriname there is a good complementarity of the hydro and solar resources. During dry season, when the level of the dam is low, the solar radiation is higher. In this period, solar energy can help reduce the risk of energy deficit.

Is Suriname a good country to live in?

In this regard, Suriname has a great advantage compared with other countries in the Caribbean. The existing hydropower plant, Afobaka dam, which supplies about the 50% of the electricity demand of the country, can be one of the keys for the development of solar and wind energy.

Can solar panels be used for self-consumption?

The Electricity Act 2016 also establishes the possibility for private consumers to install their own solar panels for self-consumption and to use the electric grid to exchange the energy by using net metering scheme. The user can recover the energy excesses sent to the grid with no additional cost.