Kralendijk, Bonaire, September 11th , 2024 – Recently, Bonaire has been confronted with more frequent power outages caused by a combination of factors: an unexpected large increase in electricity consumption due to extreme heat, and infrastructure damage as a result of external construction activities, among other things. The unexpected 15-20% increase in electricity demand has placed pressure on the distribution network, which has largely contributed to the outages.
Causes of the outages
Water -en Energiebedrijf Bonaire (WEB), responsible for the island’s energy supply, stated that the increase in demand far exceeded the anticipated growth rate of 5%. Despite WEB’s collaboration with Contour Global Bonaire (CGB) to ensure sufficient production capacity, the growth also placed additional strain on the network. The issues were further compounded by:
- Damage to several high-voltage cables, primarily caused by the high
- Short circuits in the power supply at Hillside and overly sensitive security systems.
- Automatic disconnection of cables due to overload.
WEB’s actions and long-term solutions
WEB immediately took measures to restore the affected areas. Production capacity was increased in collaboration with CGB, with an additional 5 MW capacity added. Large-scale repairs were made to damaged cables, and a restructuring of the distribution network is underway to prevent future outages.
For the long term, WEB is working on:
- Expanding the system to digitalize the control and monitoring of the electricity grid.
- Expanding the capacity of the main transmission, which is expected to be completed by January 2025
- Expanding and modernizing the electricity grid to accommodate the growth of Bonaire.
- Improved collaboration with contractors to quickly identify and address infrastructure damage.
What is Being Done Today?
WEB is currently repairing damaged cables in various areas and conducting inspections on the most heavily loaded parts of the network. Security systems are also being optimized to prevent unnecessary shutdowns. The current outages are being brought under control, and stability is expected to be restored in the coming days.
Future Plans
WEB will continue investing in the expansion of wind energy and further capacity increases to ensure that Bonaire remains supplied with stable energy even during peak usage. WEB is committed to modernizing infrastructure and working with external partners to minimize future incidents.
For more information, you can contact WEB via info@webbonaire.com.
