Lightning strike damages distribution panel at Mabaruma Solar Farm, Guyana

The 400kW Mabaruma Solar Farm at Khan's Hill, Mabaruma, Guyana, operated by Hinterland Electrification and owned by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, was struck by lightning before completion of commissioning, damaging a distribution panel that carried electricity from the solar farm to the power house. An engineer inspecting the site found that the plant had not been properly earthed, meaning a repeat lightning strike could cause further damage. The Government Electrical Inspectorate later tested the grounding of the lightning protection systems and found they did not meet specifications. The EPC contractor, Meeco, and Hinterland Electrification disputed responsibility for rectifying the fault, delaying commissioning beyond its original 2018 target. The contract was eventually terminated and the transformer and other damaged equipment were scheduled for replacement through a new tender process.

Inadequate earthing and lightning protection at the solar farm, which failed to meet required specifications; a contractual dispute between Meeco and Hinterland Electrification over responsibility for remedial works delayed repairs.

1. Earthing and lightning protection systems should be independently verified against design specifications before a renewable energy site is commissioned.
2. Contracts should clearly assign responsibility for lightning and grounding protection performance to avoid disputes after a fault occurs.
3. Sites in high lightning-risk regions should undergo specific electrical inspectorate testing of grounding systems prior to energisation.

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