The heart of energy in America may lie an energy facility producing 27,000,000 liters of water every second, however, this facility won’t be found in the U.S. While the U.S. ranks supreme as the country moving towards the cleaner energy mission, the facility capable of providing 27 million liters of water per second could take care of approximately 73% of its country’s power needs. While the hydroelectric complex can be found outside of America, it may inspire America’s clean energy agenda too.
Understanding the Guri Project
The Guri Project led to the discovery of this hydroelectric complex; however, the Guri Project was initially seen as the Simón Bolívar Hydroelectric Station with studies being conducted as far back as 1961. The project focused on constructing a dam to reduce Venezuela’s dependence on fossil fuels and this dam was situated 100 kilometers upstream on the Caroní River in the Necuima Canyon.
The plan developed according to stages with the initial stage being completed in 1976 and being able to deliver 2,065 MW from ten generators. Thereafter, the next stage was launched in 1978 and was completed in 1986. The second stage worked on improving the plant’s capacity by adding ten more turbines being able to produce 630 MW each. Finally, the Guri Project yielded a capacity of 10,200 MW causing it to be one of the most beneficial hydroelectric power stations in the world.
The best part of the Guri Project is the dam which is 531 feet in height and about 4,313 feet in length. Storing water is only one of the benefits of this dam; it also works to improve flood control and water management across the Caroní basin.
The Guri Project’s role in assisting the grid
To date, the Guri Hydroelectric Power Plant, found in the Orinoco region of Venezuela, is one of the best power-producing facilities. It is a huge power station capable of producing more or less 50,000 GWh of electricity, supplying homes and industries all over the country.
Thus far, this Guri project powers about three-quarters of Venezuela’s grid. The problem is that droughts that happened in 2010, 2016, and 2019 respectively affected water levels at the reservoir causing power outages across Venezuela. In 2019, the country experienced a blackout caused by the failure of the San Gerónimo B substation, which links to Guri.
While the Guri project is a strength that cannot be reckoned with, it is also not without its setbacks. The fact that Venezuela’s energy security depends on this river and the infrastructure around the river is something that needs to be seriously considered. Nevertheless, Venezuela surely found a way to turn water into energy.
Modernizing the Guri Project to ensure longevity
The people of Venezuela do recognize the potential of the Guri plant and thus they have put effort into modernizing the facility to improve the operational life of the facility by 30 years. Back in 2007, Andritz Hydro signed a €100 million contract to provide Francis turbines for Powerhouse II, each rated at 770 MW. Thereafter, Alstom Hydro was called on to improve the existing generators.
Alongside this, a consortium under ABB improved the plant’s control and monitoring systems. Technologically driven, an Industrial Video and Control (IVC) system equipped with leak detection was further installed. Despite the many technological advancements, Venezuela’s energy grid faces immense pressure.
Venezuela’s Guri Hydroelectric Power Plant continues to offer hope due to its flow rate, which is more than 27 million liters per second, and as such, provides power to an entire nation whilst simultaneously powering the grid, factories, and cities. Following through with a greener energy stance, this project located far from the U.S. soil provides a global renewable solution that entails tapping into hydropower. Perhaps Venezuela has found something better than oil, the ability to produce energy for millennia.
