Total power demand to jump five-fold under development plan

Aug 20, 2026 News

…peak electricity demand to soar by 957 MW

(Kaieteur News) – The Guyana Power and Light’s transmission and distribution expansion plan 2026-2030 has projected that peak demand will increase to 1,671 MW by 2030, while total electricity demand is expected to increase more than fivefold, reaching an astonishing 10,441 GWh by 2030, up from 2,000 GWh in 2026.

These demand projections are based on Linden being integrated into the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) by 2029.

Peak demand for 2026 is expected to reach 318 MW. This will increase “to 1,671 MW in 2030, averaging an increase of 957 MW over the period. These projections inform required capacity planning, infrastructure investment, and operational readiness across the national grid to achieve the planning objectives,” the programme document stated.

In the same fashion, total electricity demand is expected to surge. From 2,000 GWh this year, demand is projected to jump significantly over the next few years, reaching approximately 10,441 GWh by 2030.

Total power demand to jump five-fold under development plan

GPL + Linden Potential Electricity Demand, 2025-2030.

The document said this reflects the combined effects of current and future residential expansion, alongside commercial and industrial growth, and the enabling role of large-scale transmission and distribution investments that underpin system integration.

“Investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure are expected to yield significant operational benefits, particularly through reductions in technical and non-technical losses and a decrease in SAIFI and SAIDI (reliability indices). These improvements enhance the system’s operational efficiency and enable more effective utilisation of generated electricity,” the document further stated.

At the same time, reductions in non-technical losses are expected to contribute to increased energy sales and revenue for the company. These developments underpin a comprehensive strategy to improve the energy landscape across the GPL and Linden network.

Under the Base Case scenario, average potential sales are projected at approximately 4,966 GWh, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 51.5%, or 1,566 GWh per year.

The country’s electricity development and expansion programme spans a portfolio of generation and network investments that are progressing at different stages and under different institutional arrangements.

These include the “Gas-to-Energy projects, the proposed Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, utility-scale solar developments such as Guyana Utility Scale Photovoltaic Program (GUYSOL) implemented through a partnership between GPL and the Inter-American Development Bank), other planned solar PV facilities led by GPL, and extensive transmission and distribution (T&D) upgrades, extensions, and reinforcements,” the document said.

These investments are intended to strengthen the reliability of the system while improving its operational efficiency and supporting the structural shift towards a more diversified and resilient electricity supply.

“For the medium-term planning horizon (2026–2030), demand projections were developed on the basis that Linden is integrated into the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) by 2029. Under this assumption, combined GPL + Linden’s electricity demand is forecast to average approximately 5,975 GWh over the period, corresponding to an annual growth rate of about 45.7 percent, or roughly 1,753 GWh per year,” the document added.

Generation and Peak Demand: One Year Before First Oil vs. After

Guyana pumped its first oil in December 2019. The peak generation for the year before stood at 116.8 MW. This was supported by an installed generating capacity of about 126 MW, while total national generation was approximately 1,136 GWh.

In 2019, total national generation increased slightly from 1,136 GWh to 1,151 GWh. Peak demand also increased from 116.8 MW to 126 MW, while overall installed capacity stood at around 380 MW.

According to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Development and Expansion Programme, gross generation served as a proxy for total energy demand, which grew by an annual average of 3.8% leading up to 2019.

In 2020, total electricity generation for Guyana Power & Light Inc. (GPL) was approximately 903 GWh. Peak demand was around 120–134 MW, with an installed capacity of 337 MW.

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electricity demand, GPL, Linden, peak demand

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