WILLEMSTAD – Aqualectra has warned customers that rotating power outages could begin at around 9:00 p.m. Tuesday evening if weather conditions develop as forecast, as the utility struggles with reduced wind generation and problems affecting conventional generating equipment.
According to an update issued Tuesday, October 13, there are strong indications that winds will weaken during the evening, precisely when electricity consumption is high. If that happens, Aqualectra expects it may have to begin load shedding to keep electricity supply and demand in balance.
The utility said the current situation is being complicated by several technical factors.
A gas turbine that began operating on Sunday went offline again on Monday. In addition, one of Aqualectra's other generating units developed a problem with a pump Tuesday evening.
Aqualectra described the pump problem as relatively minor but acknowledged that, under the current circumstances, the loss of generating capacity is significant. Technicians were working on the unit Tuesday evening in an effort to return it to service as quickly as possible.
If load shedding becomes necessary, Aqualectra said the situation will likely fluctuate, making it difficult to predict in advance exactly when individual neighborhoods will lose electricity.
However, the utility said customers affected by an outage should be without electricity for no longer than approximately two hours.
Aqualectra also addressed concerns that rotating outages, locally known as “schakel,” have become a regular occurrence.
The company said this is not the case and expects two additional generating units to enter service by the end of October. According to Aqualectra, having those two units in operation should provide sufficient capacity to cope with periods of reduced wind without causing the same problems currently affecting the electricity system.
Another generating unit is expected to be ready by the end of November.
The latest warning once again illustrates the importance of wind generation in Curaçao's electricity supply. When wind speeds decline at a time of high demand, conventional generating capacity must be sufficient to compensate for the resulting reduction in renewable electricity production.
Aqualectra acknowledged that the announcement would be disappointing for customers but said it wanted to maintain open and honest communication about the condition of the electricity system.
The utility did not identify specific neighborhoods expected to be affected Tuesday night because any load shedding would depend on real-time conditions in the electricity network.