Electricity conservation necessary to mitigate hike in demand – GPL tells consumers

The Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) has recorded its highest-ever electricity generation and demand in the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS), leading the utility company to encourage consumers to practice electricity conservation.
The company recorded a peak demand of 182 Megawatts (MW) compared to 154 MW for the corresponding period last year.
This notable increase in electricity generation and consumption can be attributed to the increasingly high temperatures over the past few months and growth in the housing and commercial sectors, the utility company deduced.
GPL in a published notice stated, “This situation is not unique to GPL, as countries around the Caribbean and the world are facing similar energy challenges. Neighbouring Trinidad recorded its highest-ever electricity consumption in August.”
The rise in temperature has led to heightened use of air conditioning units and fans. In some instances, AC units and fans are left on in homes and businesses that are unoccupied, resulting in unnecessary energy wastage.
To cushion the effects of this situation, GPL is seeking the support and cooperation of our customers in adopting conscientious electricity conservation practices.
These conservation practices are: unplug appliances when not in use; turn off fans and lights before leaving rooms; unplug stereo systems, computers, printers, and TVs that are not in use.
If these must remain plugged in, ensure they are in energy-saving mode. Persons can also use LEDs as they consume significantly less electricity and generate less heat.
Factories, manufacturers, and other large customers should manage their production schedules efficiently to conserve electricity. Schedule laundry and ironing on one day instead of multiple days.
“GPL will continue to closely monitor this situation and encourage all customers to embrace electricity conservation as a daily practice,” the power company added.
The Government is aiming for a massive energy mix to ensure stable electricity output with the multibillion-dollar transformational gas-to-energy project which includes the construction of an integrated Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant and a 300-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD).
By 2025, with 300MW of new baseload capacity provided with natural gas, the reliability of the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) grid will increase while the Green House Gas (GHG) emissions associated with electricity generation will be reduced by half.
The plant aims to reduce the cost of energy by at least 50 per cent through an energy mix, thereby potentially saving Guyana US$150 million on power generation annually. Through the turbines used at the plant, 300 MW of energy will be generated, which is double the amount that GPL currently provides.
In June, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had announced that there was active interest from Brazil to bring the Amaila Falls project to life after it was hindered when the China Railway First Group (CRFG), the company that won the contract, had informed the Government of its difficulties meeting the contractual obligations.
This project will be based on a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model where the company will supply electricity to GPL Inc at a cost not exceeding US$0.07737 per kWh and where the company will provide the entire equity required by the project and undertake all the risks associated with the project.
Meanwhile, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) had approved the use of US$83.8 million, earned from Norway to keep Guyana’s rainforests intact, for the construction of eight solar farms that aim to add renewable energy sources to Guyana’s grid.