News

GUERNSEY Electricity has applied for permission to construct two new storage tanks at its Northside fuel depot.

The tanks will provide additional storage capacity for the heavy fuel oil used by the power station’s main diesel generators. These currently provide around 25% of the island’s electricity, and are also a back-up should the submarine cable link to Europe be out of action for any period.

Guernsey Electricity engineering director Steve Morris said that although the cable link now provides the bulk of the island’s power, the company has to maintain capacity for full on-island generation.

This means having adequate fuel supplies to run its generators in the event of a prolonged interruption to the submarine cable.

‘Our primary aim is to provide the island with a secure and reliable electricity supply. Obviously that means ensuring that we have adequate contingency arrangements in place to meet all the island’s requirements in the event of any disruption to our primary source of electricity, which is the cable link,’ said Mr Morris.

Existing heavy fuel oil facilities at Northside have sufficient capacity to maintain full on-island generation for up to four weeks in the peak winter months. The new tanks would increase this to around six weeks.

Mr Morris said the additional on-island storage would be sufficient to meet the rising demand for electricity, and also ensure there are sufficient contingency arrangements to cope with a supply problem.

The heavy fuel oil arrives in the island via tanker, which because of tidal restrictions can only access St Sampson’s Harbour on a few days every fortnight. This can be disrupted due to bad weather.

Mr Morris said the current storage four-week capacity was less than desirable and presented the company with an increasing risk from disruption to its delivery schedules.

‘Our contingency plans take account of the factors affecting our ability to maintain on-island generation should that ever be required. Given the current levels of demand, and the restrictions on delivery schedules there is now a need to increase our storage facilities.’

The plans submitted to the Environment Department have identified two possible locations within the existing fuel depot, both adjacent to the existing tanks.