– Indar says data-centre boom is driving strong demand for turbines

GUYANA is moving to secure turbine equipment well ahead of planned power-generation projects as rising global demand, particularly from the expansion of data centres, creates pressure on the availability of the equipment needed to expand electricity generation.
Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, during his appearance on the Energy Perspectives podcast, has said that the Government has already made arrangements with turbine manufacturers to secure equipment for another planned 300-megawatt generation project, pointing to strong international demand as a factor that could affect the timing of future energy investments.
“We already did what we call a slot arrangement with the manufacturers of the turbine to secure those because they have great demand on them because of data centres,” Indar said.
The minister said the need to reserve manufacturing capacity is linked to the long lead times associated with procuring major generation equipment, making early planning necessary as Guyana seeks to expand its electricity system alongside rapid economic growth.
Guyana’s immediate generation expansion includes the 300MW Gas-to-Energy project at Wales, which Indar said is expected to begin testing in December. The facility will initially generate 228MW through four 57MW gas turbines, before two steam turbines bring the plant to its full 300MW combined-cycle capacity.
However, Indar said the country’s electricity requirements will continue to grow well beyond the current Gas-to-Energy project.
Looking towards 2030, he said Guyana will require between 1,600MW and 1,700MW of generation capacity, meaning several additional projects will have to be developed and brought into operation.
Among the projects identified by the minister are a further 300MW gas-based generation project and the 165MW Amaila Falls hydropower project.
Against this backdrop, Indar said the Government has to carefully coordinate the timing of those investments with the growth in electricity demand, since generation projects require substantial capital and associated infrastructure.
“You have to stagger the build-out with economic demand for power,” he said, while noting that the construction of a generation plant can cost more than US$1 billion before other infrastructure, including pipelines and transmission systems, is considered.
The challenge is further complicated by the fact that major new industrial investments can rapidly alter Guyana’s electricity requirements.
Indar said an investor establishing a bauxite-processing facility, for example, could require around 100MW, while other energy-intensive industries could similarly cause significant increases in projected demand.
“These sectors that are huge consumers of energy, when they come into the country, when you put that into your planning model, it spikes the demand, and you have to cater for that,” he said.
As such, Indar said the Government’s planning team continually monitors demand and adjusts its plans as new investments enter the economy, while seeking to ensure that generation capacity is developed in line with the country’s changing requirements.