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It was around 9.50am on Thursday, August 14, when the usual, almost imperceptible roar of electrical machinery suddenly stopped. Neighborhood by neighborhood, residents ask themselves the same question: is this a localized or general power cut? It's definitely a blackout. A "black-out". Fortunately, the incident is not linked to an accident (fire, breakage, etc.) at the Public EDF power plant. In fact, the cause of the blackout was a "simple" check on a protective device.
The efficiency of EDF technicians
Throughout the month, one of the plant's two large engines is "visited". The 8-megawatt machine is thoroughly inspected by specialized technicians. According to the information we were able to gather, the "black-out" is linked to a check on the electrical protection at a high-voltage substation. As this was faulty, all the circuit-breakers in the substation were tripped. As a direct consequence, the power plant was shut down.
Immediately, all EDF staff were mobilized to restart the machines. And they did so effectively, as power gradually returned to the whole island within a few hours. The electrical protection was of course replaced. Nevertheless, the incident shows that the plant is definitely in need of a facelift. For the time being, however, the matter remains under discussion.
In his address on Sunday August 24, the President of the Collectivité territoriale, Xavier Lédée, declared: "The forthcoming reconstruction of the EDF power plant will have to be carefully thought through and remain proportionate to the limits of our island. The work in progress is a source of hope. "The elected representative spoke of "weekly meetings with EDF and government departments" on the subject, and asserted: "The Collectivité will assume its responsibilities to support the reconstruction project financially and in terms of property. It will also ensure that tariff equalization continues to protect every household on Saint-Barthélemy. "While we await concrete progress, concerns are being voiced at the plant.
Steadily rising consumption
These concerns relate in particular to the possibility of the structure falling into a state of degraded service, as in Saint-Martin, for example. Repeated power cuts at the height of the tourist season, when electricity consumption peaks, would inevitably have damaging consequences.
During a visit to EDF's Public site earlier this year, a number of aspects of the plant's operation were explained. As a reminder, the plant has eight motors: six of 5 megawatts, two of 8 megawatts (currently undergoing inspection). The former date from 1985, the latter from 2013. The oldest engine has 165,000 hours on the clock.
Potentially, the plant can produce 34 megawatts, but 30 are available. With a three-week reserve, consumption is steadily increasing.
Air conditioning tops the list
EDF customers on Saint-Barthélemy consume three times as much energy as those on Saint-Martin. To run these engines, the power plant consumes between 125,000 and 130,000 liters of fuel oil per day. According to the data presented by the former director, Hervé le Trionnaire, homes account for a third of consumption, tourist villas and hotels another third, and businesses (restaurants, industries, companies, stores, etc.) the final third. What's more, 38% of electricity production is consumed by... air conditioning. Swimming pools account for 13% of overall consumption.
Over the past few years, efforts have been made to control energy consumption, with the installation of solar panels, more energy-efficient machines, better lighting management, and so on. Nevertheless, the energy issue remains more than ever in the pile of vital emergencies for Saint-Barthélemy.
