Bahamas Power and Light on Baillou Hill Road.
NASSAU, The Bahamas--Bahamas Grid Company (BGC), which is carrying out the overhaul of Bahamas Power and Light’s (BPL) transmission and distribution network in New Providence, said that six months into its Foundational Grid Upgrade Project, the initiative is moving faster than anticipated.
“Progress on the $130 million initiative is well-ahead of schedule – 28% faster than planned, with major infrastructure improvements completed or underway,” said BGC in its first progress metrics report.
The infrastructure included the replacement of ageing wooden poles with 144 new steel poles; the re-conductoring of 153,120 feet of transmission cable with double-sized wire to accommodate future load growth and new generation sources; the re-conductoring of 42,240 feet of distribution cable to remediate system vulnerabilities and support expanding customer demand; and the ongoing construction of three new substations to enhance system protection and enable re-routing of power to prevent large-scale outages.
“Early results show the project is already transforming electricity delivery, with outages declining sharply and thousands of customers now experiencing enhanced service quality,” the company said.
BGC, a special purpose vehicle, was established via a joint venture partnership between government and Island Grid Solutions, a Bahamian management company established by United States (US)-based Pike Corporation. Work on the project began in April.
BGC said in addition to its major infrastructure works, its efforts to deploy smart technologies to reduce outages are “delivering measurable results in outage reduction and faster response times”.
It noted the installation of 47 IntelliRupters and an integrated work management system, as well as the replacement of 137,280 feet of OPGW fibre cable to enable remote operations, protection devices, and the integration of smart technologies across the grid.
“The positive impact of these upgrades is being felt by homes and businesses across New Providence,” BGC said.
It said that 49,000 homes in “historically outage-prone areas” are experiencing far fewer interruptions.
“Sixteen thousand homes have benefited from load-balancing efforts that improve power quality and extend the lifespan of home appliances,” the company said.
It said there has been an 86% reduction in outages for costumes downstream of IntelliRupters, and proactive patrols and maintenance on 70 circuit miles of high-risk areas are helping to reduce potential damage from storms.
“Six months into implementation, the Foundational Grid Upgrade Project is already delivering measurable reliability improvements, laying the groundwork for a more secure and sustainable energy system for New Providence,” BGC said. ~ The Nassau Guardian ~
