Presentation on investing in Hydropower and the Power Cable Interconnection in Guyana, delivered at a July 10, 2013 entrepreneurial forum, hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

1. Electrical Transmission Potential
Trinidad: Guyana Link and
Guyana Hydropower
(Presentation hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago
Chamber of Industry and Commerce, July 10, 2013)
David R. Hardy, M.C.I.P, R.P.P.,
President, Hardy Stevenson and Associates Limited
www.hardystevenson.com @hardystevenson
http://hardystevenson.wordpress.com/

2. Vision for Sustainable Energy
Future
• Carilec, Trinidad, Guyana and others
envision sustainable energy future
• An electricity grid using marine cable will
be able to achieve many of the
sustainability goals:
 Can resolve locked in power issues in
Trinidad and Tobago and elsewhere
 Cheaper electricity
 Opportunity to diversify generation mix
 Lowering of greenhouse gas emissions
 Carbon credit opportunities and lowering
the carbon footprint in Trinidad
 Significantly improved GNP for Trinidad
and Tobago and Guyana, and other
connecting countries

4. HVDC Marine Cable Benefits
• Provides choice of
generation source as it
creates energy market
• Dependable
• Anticipates future
Caribbean grid based
on marine cable
• Potential future
transmission
interconnections to
South American grid

5. Connecting Renewables into a Grid
• Waste to Energy
• Wind
• Geothermal
• Ocean thermal
• Biogas
• Hydropower
• Solar
• Ability to add renewables
as part of energy mix

6. Implications for Current Supply
• Current Trinidad fossil
generation can supply
increased load in Guyana
(mines or smelter etc.)
and/or can function as
peaking plants
• Ultimately, large Guyana
hydropower projects can
serve as sustainability
anchor

7. Guyana Hydropower
• Guyana has up to 7000 MW of undeveloped hydropower
• Both dam and run of the river energy generation is
possible so as to minimize environmental footprint
• Turtruba Rapids Hydropower project as an example:
 1976 feasibility by Moneco
 2005 Pre-feasibility study completed by Hardy
Stevenson finds that hydropower is indeed feasible,
more work to be done

8. Trinidad – Guyana HVDC
Marine Cable
• Proven technology
• Off the shelf converters DC to AC
• Distances long, but not breaking
records
• Guyana Trinidad link excellent start
to Caribbean grid
• Many islands already using HVDC
– Philippines, Hawaiian Islands

9. ATrans-Caribbean Grid is a Clean
Development Mechanism
• Helps to remove barriers to renewable energy development
• Supports a sustainable renewable energy industry
• Becomes a framework
to provide mutual
support for regional
and national renewable
energy projects

10. Cost
• Shore to shore 450/500 km = $ 700 +/- million estimate
• Depends on: 1) global price of metals; 2) length of run;
3) need for AC DC Converters
• Feasibility study of $1-2 million
• DC/AC converters at $100 m
• Engineering, design,
environmental studies
$25 million est.

11. HVDC Specifics
• Depth limitations of 1,600 to 1,700 meters.
• Deepest is 5,380 feet
• A long cable goes from Eenshaven,
Netherlands to Feda, Norway
at 500 km and 700 mw
• Trinidad to Guyana is in this range
• 200 meters depth and 450 to 500 km +/-
• DC can carry 1.4 x more power than AC
with fewer line losses

12. Risks
• Results of environmental studies
still to be determined
• Route needs to be off shore
from Venezuela
• Coordinating energy and
economic objectives of Guyana
and TT essential
• Guyana’s economic opportunities
need to be demonstrated
• Multi-country public consultation
important
• Multi-government cooperation

13. Other Benefits of Grid
• Ability to share capital costs of new conventional and
renewable energy projects
• Creates economies of scale
• Allows countries to adopt technologies suited to larger
market and best generation technologies
• Security of supply
• Promotes energy integration
• Employment generation

14. Other Benefits of Grid
• Easier shutdowns of current system (particularly
diesel) for maintenance and scheduled outages
• Provides for shared risks and benefits
• Ultimately lower net total energy cost
 Would significantly lower electricity cost in Guyana
based on natural gas based electricity
 When electricity comes back to Trinidad as
hydropower it will lower the unsubsidized cost of
power in Trinidad

15. Conclusion
• Biggest economic problem for the
Caribbean is cost of energy
• Trinidad – Guyana HVDC Marine
cable provides diversity of supply
and sustainability benefits
• Provides demand (outlet for locked
in Trinidad fossil fuel generation)
• Supports economic development in Guyana
• Carbon trading benefits
• Lower energy costs and improved GNP
for connecting countries