Guyana Power and Light (GPL) is preparing for a potential rise in electricity demand this year as hotter, drought-like conditions, new household connections, and increased use of air conditioning are expected to put additional pressure on the national grid. Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, indicated that the power company currently has enough generation capacity to meet peak demand, which is approximately 228 megawatts, while available generation capacity stands at around 267 megawatts.
Indar emphasized the importance of planning ahead as more homes are connected to the grid and electricity consumption continues to rise. He stated, “Every time more connections are happening, more demand is on the grid. So we have to cater for that.” The minister also noted that hot weather typically leads to increased electricity consumption, particularly as more households rely on air conditioning for extended periods. He remarked, “When the place is hot, people put on AC all the time… you can’t stop people from that. That is the natural thing, so you’ve got to accommodate that.”
To maintain a stable supply, GPL is taking into account both seasonal and long-term increases in demand. Indar mentioned that the upcoming gas-to-energy project is expected to enhance power supply and reduce electricity costs once operational. He explained that the Siemens turbine technology being utilized for this project should also help minimize major shutdowns, as it operates differently from the older reciprocating engines currently in use. The turbines will support power generation at the gas-to-energy plant located at Wales, with one turbine anticipated to come online later this year, followed by additional units soon after.
Source: hgptv.com
