Guam Power Authority’s existing facilities to meet the power requirements, according to the draft environmental impact study.
The impact report anticipates the island will need to absorb approximately 7,000 people by next year. The population explosion soars by 2014 with 40,000 new residents before sliding back slightly by 2019 with 10,000 more people than today, if the impact report numbers are reliable.
With so many new residents in the ensuing years, the islandwide power grid will see correlated demands on the electrical system. Initially demand will increase by 4.93 megawatts from the current peak demand production of 281.5 megawatts. This is projected to occur by next year.
However in 2014, megawattage requirements zoom by a whopping scale of nearly 30 megawatts. Within five years following that explosive increase Guam’s power grid is zapped once again with an expected demand increase of 7.88 megawatts.
Current demand
According to the Guam Economic Development Authority’s Web site, GPA currently provides service to 45,751 customers with an annual budget of approximately $291 million. Current peak system demand to date is 281.5-MW with a 98 percent reserve margin.
GPA has an installed generation capacity of 552.2-MW gross including 181-MW from independent power producers. GPA has organized 210.6-MW of its base load capacity under two performance management contracts.
With the increase in electrical demands just over the horizon, the study cited various alternatives to enhance islandwide power capabilities in order to meet anticipated demand over the coming years.
The Consolidated Commission on Utilities is hoping to arrange a power integration system with the defense department to produce power that will be shared by the military and civilian communities.
