As part of its ongoing programme to improve the supply of electricity to its customers, Guyana Power and Light (GPL) on Wednesday energised a new 13,800 volt Express Feeder (distribution line) from Vriesland to the Vreed-en-Hoop (VEH) Power Plant, a distance of over 16 kilometers.
According to a GPL release, the project which cost $76,955,765, is intended to bring significant benefits to residents and businesses on the West Bank Demerara including reduced frequency and duration of service interruptions, improved voltage quality and reliable electricity supply. It will also add flexibility to the interconnected system whereby power can also be exported from the West Bank Demerara to the East Bank Demerara via an alternative route provided by the new distribution line.
A first for this project is the utilisation of concrete pole structures within the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS). The company says that this new development is associated with multiple benefits which are to be accrued over time.
Prior to the installation of the feeder, power supply to customers on West Bank Demerara was supported by the importation of approximately 3 MW from the Garden of Eden Power Plant via the Craig to Vriesland submarine cable link. This is despite having adequate capacity at the VEH station of approximately 14 MW; which is exported to the East Bank Demerara. The main reason for this was the inadequacy of having a single feeder from the VEH power plant to Vriesland.
GPL has highlighted the benefits of this project to both the company and its customers. These include:
Improved Reliability of Service – there will be reduced outages as the two distribution lines can better supply areas between VEH and Vriesland with the added distribution capacity and redundancy, allowing for maintenance activities to be carried out with limited interruptions. For example, if there is a fault on the original feeder, the new feeder can adequately supply customers who would have been otherwise out of power.
Improved Voltage Quality – Residents and businesses, including the GWI facilities, will experience improved voltage levels. These will be further enhanced with the installation of capacitors and voltage regulators over the next few weeks.
Reduced Reliance on Imported Power from the East Bank Demerara – Power is imported from the East Bank Demerara via the Craig to Vriesland 13.8 kV Cable. As demonstrated by recent experience, the submarine cables are susceptible to disruption from vessels traversing the Demerara River. While GPL is implementing measures to reduce this risk, the new feeder will serve to make our systems more resilient by reducing the need to transfer power across the Demerara River.
Reduced System Losses – With added distribution circuit, line losses will be reduced, thereby reducing overall system losses.
GPL also stated that the project represents the first phase of a comprehensive programme to improve and expand power supply. Subsequent phases related to this project will include the installation of capacitors and voltage regulators on both feeders in the short term and the construction of a new 69 kV substation at Wales with connecting 69 kV lines to VEH and GOE. These initiatives will bring further benefits to customers on the West Bank, as well as the wider DBIS, the release added.
