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The
island's lone electricity company (LUCELEC) is refuting allegations that
it has done little to support the move to introduce renewable,
alternative or green energy to St. Lucia. The company states that for
years it has, been exploring the introduction of various forms of
alternative energy, including supporting and undertaking its own
research, as well as entertaining proposals from foreign interests.
These efforts have not been successful to date as, according to Lucelec,
proposals for alternative energy, have generally fallen short of the
company's clear obligation to supply the nation with safe, reliable and
affordable electrical power.
Speaking on the issue, Planning Manager, Francis Daniel stated that
"Lucelec has over the years, been involved in reviewing alternative
forms of energy generation including, geothermal energy, energy from
household waste (gypsum plant) and wind energy, all of which utilise
renewable energy resources".
Daniel confirmed that Lucelec has been involved in the Government's
exploration efforts for geothermal energy in the Sulphur Springs area
since the mid nineteen seventies. He further stated that the Government
along with French interests plans to undertake further geophysical and
geo-chemical investigations, including the sinking of shallow test
wells. LUCELEC has been invited to become a partner in this initiative,
but has been reluctant because of the high risks.
Lucelec also confirmed that in 1999, it had received a proposal from a
foreign investor for Lucelec to purchase electricity from a Gypsum Plant
planned for the Choiseul area but later changed to Vieux Fort. It noted
however, that there were several drawbacks to the proposal. The need for
20 metric tons of solid waste daily to keep the plant operational, the
selling price of the electricity (almost twice what it costs Lucelec to
produce), as well as the absence of technical information addressing
issues such as specific plant location, method of fuel delivery, method
of grid inter-connection etc, made it difficult for Lucelec to commit to
a power purchase agreement and thus such a venture.
Lucelec further indicated that it had been approached in 1998 with a
power purchase agreement by a foreign investor to purchase energy
generated from Wind Turbines, and had contracted an independent expert
to review the proposal. The proposal was described by the consulting
expert as inadequate, lacking sound engineering principles and
impossible to implement at the location proposed, and noted that there
had been inappropriate monitoring of the wind resource. Further, stated
the consultants, the site indicated by the developers was certainly not
among the 10 most preferred sites in St. Lucia for wind power
development.
Daniel says that Lucelec sees
wind power as the most likely form of renewable energy for the island at
this time. Consequently, Lucelec is undertaking a wind power study as
well as developing a pilot project, as the initial step to a major
renewable energy initiative. "Ultimately, we see the long term
development being undertaken by an Independent Power Provider (IPP)
either in partnership with Lucelec or on its own with data supplied by
Lucelec"
Alternative Energy in St. Lucia- Lucelec's View
In the last decade there has been increasing global concern over the
depletion of the ozone layer and the resulting climatic conditions. At
the local level, the various policies of government regarding
sustainable energy plans, as well as the commitment of Lucelec to some
of these initiatives, have been significant in attempting to promote
renewable energy projects and thus the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions. Lucelec has been for some time now looking at developments in
renewable energy technology and its potential impact on the company in
particular and the country in general. The following is a synopsis of
the exploration of renewable and alternative energy in St. Lucia, and
the initiatives taken by Lucelec in that regard.
Geothermal Energy
The first survey was carried out
in 1951 with the support of the United Nations. It was focused on the
Sulphur Springs area which is the main zone of surface manifestations
with abundant hot springs, fumaroles, mud pools and steaming grounds.
The survey indicated that there were steam dominated reservoirs at
depth. In 1964 the first comprehensive geological map of the area was
produced.
Seven exploratory holes were
drilled in the Qualibou depression in Soufriere between 1974 and 1976.
The primary finding of the exploratory drillings was the recognition of
a steam-dominated geothermal reservoir below the Sulphur Springs at 200
to 300 meters depth, producing superheated steam with low pH and a high
rate of non-condensable gases. The initial estimated figure on the
geothermal potential was lowered as the it was determined that the steam
had a high saline content and for safety reasons any effluent should be
re-injected. A second phase of exploration survey was carried out in
1982 and 1983, the aim of which was to improve the knowledge of the
background of the Qualibou depression and the Sulphur Springs geothermal
system.
A feasibility study started in
1986 led to two deep exploratory boreholes being drilled in 1987-1988.
In 1990-1991, in consultation with Lucelec, a New Zealand consultant (GENZEL),
performed incomplete tests on the wells. The most recent evaluation of
the Sulphur Springs project was carried out in 1992 by an Italian
consultant, who considered the Terra Blanche area as having potential
because of its high temperature and permeability.
Lucelec has been involved in the
Government's exploratory efforts over the years for geothermal energy in
the Sulphur Springs area. Lucelec understands that the Government, in
collaboration with French interests plans to undertake further
geophysical and geo-chemical investigations, including the sinking of
some shallow test wells. LUCELEC was invited to become a partner in this
initiative. However, Lucelec has been reluctant because of the level of
risks. Lucelec is of the opinion that any further exploration will need
to clearly determine the quality and capacity of reserves in order to
assess the viability of any development. This will provide Lucelec the
information to determine a way forward to complement its existing
sources with geothermal energy.
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Gypsum Plant
In 1999 a Joint Venture
presented a proposal to the Government of St. Lucia to provide
electricity from a planned Gypsum Plant in the Choiseul area. One of the
elements of their proposal included a 9 MW Power Plant. As part of the agreement for this venture, the prospective
developers requested that Government (effectively Lucelec) sign a power
purchase agreement over a 15-year period at 10 cents US per kilowatt
hour (kWh) on a take or pay basis plus a fixed fee of EC$4m per annum as
a capacity charge.
On a daily basis the proposed
Gypsum Plant would require 20 metric tons of solid waste, commercial
waste, non-hazardous industrial waste, green-/ biomass waste and co-fire
petroleum coke to generate enough steam for the plant's internal use,
with a residue for sale to Lucelec.
Lucelec viewed the preliminary
drawbacks to the proposal as:
1. Petroleum coke would have to
be imported
2. All the waste required would likely not be available in St. Lucia and
may have to be imported.
3. Lucelec's own cost of production was substantially less, US5 cents
per kWh at the time
4. Who would meet the interconnection costs?
The status of this proposal is
that Lucelec has requested, and is awaiting a comprehensive technical
proposal from the prospective developers addressing issues such as plant
location, method of fuel delivery, method of grid inter-connection etc,
to review. These issues have serious implications on the technical,
financial and economic viability of the project, including system
security, reliability, stability and continuity.
Wind Energy
In 1995, Lucelec was approached
by two foreign companies including a Canadian firm to set up a Wind
Power Farm in the West Indies. They were requesting support for a
commercial scale Wind Plant in St. Lucia and Lucelec endorsed the
conduct of a feasibility study to determine the possibility of a Wind
Power Plant being established in St. Lucia. In January 1998 Lucelec was
presented with a copy of "St Lucia Preliminary Wind - Diesel
Integration and Wind Power Plant Project Development Plan." These
were followed by numerous meetings and a revised copy (April 26th, 1999)
of the "Term sheet for Power Purchase Agreement" document.
Lucelec was also provided a copy of the Wind Resource Assessment and
Energy Estimate prepared by the Joint Venture in October 1998. The
proposal from the Joint Venture was sent to International Wind Power
Consultants hired by Lucelec for evaluation. The proposal was described
as inadequate, lacking sound engineering principles and impossible to
implement at the location proposed.
Perspectives on the Future
Wind power is seen by Lucelec as the most attractive form of renewable
energy for the island so far. With the continuing development of this
technology coupled with the current initiatives by government and the
current global trend in terms of the movement away from fossil fuels,
the company has targeted an integration of renewable energy into its
grid to account for 10% (10MW) of its capacity by the year 2007.
In the absence of sufficiently detailed proposals and to guide its
development of wind energy potential in the country, Lucelec has decided
to undertake a wind power study and develop a pilot project as the
initial step to a major renewable energy initiative.
The primary purpose of the wind power study is to allow Lucelec to
analyze interconnection and operating cost issues, as well as consider
the optimal integration of the energy generated into the national grid
and environmental concerns as it relates to noise and visual impact.
A typical Wind Power project takes approximately 14 to18 months between
the design phase and the commissioning of a pilot wind farm. However,
this stringent time frame is dependent on acquiring wayleaves for the
site(s). Tests are currently underway and consultants have selected two
sites in the south of the island where a possible scheme could be
initiated. The pilot project will use possibly up to two (2) Wind
Turbines of at least 600 kW capacity. Once the pilot project is in
place, this will facilitate the monitoring of the installation as well
as attaining the necessary learning curve on the operation of Wind Power
Turbines with diesel operated generating units.
In this regard, Lucelec intends to be among the leaders in the
development of alternative energy in the English speaking Caribbean.
Based on the results of this demonstration project, Lucelec will be in a
position to determine the true cost associated with wind energy in St.
Lucia and will have gathered valuable data to address inter-connection
and operating cost issues. Ultimately, Lucelec sees the long term
development of wind power being undertaken by an Independent Power
Producer either in partnership with Lucelec or on its own with data
supplied by Lucelec.
Lucelec has an unremitting
obligation to supply the nation with safe, reliable and affordable
electrical power. Any proposal for alternative energy or power purchase
agreements must meet the same stringent rules the company places on
itself, and must certainly contribute greatly to the benefit of
consumers.
For further information contact Timothy Chaderton Tel
457-4400
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