More than 100,000 households had to dine by candlelight on Monday in Guadeloupe due to a power cut which affected several municipalities between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., AFP learned on Tuesday January 18 from EDF.
"
A technical incident occurred at the electricity producer EDF PEI
", the subsidiary of EDF in Guadeloupe which owns the thermal power plant with diesel engines of the electricity giant, according to the source.
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"
The causes of the incident are still being investigated
," the company said.
After the blackout on Monday, EDF indicated that it was cutting power to maintain the balance between demand for electricity, which was very high at peak times at the time of the blackout, and the network's production capacities, also calling on its customers to significantly
reduce
their electricity consumption
.
Power was restored across the island shortly after 9:00 p.m.
“A disturbed distribution” of water
Following the power cut, the water and sanitation management union, which produces and distributes drinking water for a large part of Guadeloupe, announced in a press release "
disrupted distribution
" of water.
water on its territory. The thermal power plant at the origin of the breakdown is the main electricity production facility in Guadeloupe and represents, according to the Regional Observatory for Energy and Climate (Orec), 60% of local electricity production, the rest of the energy produced comes from a coal-fired power plant and renewable energies: wind, solar, biogas, geothermal...
“
In 2020, 76.68% of electricity production comes from primary fossil energies (oil and coal) and 23.32% from renewable energies
”, indicates Orec in a 2021 report. Electricity production increases from year to year, but in ever lower proportions than that produced from fossil fuels.
However, projects exist, such as "
the installation of a solar power plant in Marie-Galante, or the increase in the power of the geothermal power plant in Bouillante
", recalls Jérôme Roch, director of the Agency for the environment and energy management in Guadeloupe.
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In 2019, Guadeloupe saw the establishment of a park of eight wind turbines, the first for ten years, "
producing the electricity necessary for the consumption of 17,000 inhabitants
", according to the operator, Valorem.
"
The 2015 energy transition law requires Guadeloupe to achieve energy autonomy by 2030, including transport
", also indicates Jérôme Roch.
According to the Orec report, "
in 2020, the rate of energy dependence
" of Guadeloupe "
is equal to 92.81% vis-à-vis imported energy resources, and 92.66% vis-à-vis fossil energy resources.
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