Transmission work on offer for Caribbean geothermal project

The island nation of Dominica has taken a new step in its plan to add geothermal power to the energy mix.

Dominica Geothermal Development (DGD) launched bidding for the transmission infrastructure of a 10MW plant under construction in Laudat, Roseau Valley.

The contract is for substations Trafalgar (2.2/33kV), Padu (33/11kV), Fond Cole (69/33/11kV) and Laudat (11kV), and associated lines.

The winner will have 90 days to submit detailed designs, 18 months for partial completion and 30 months for overall completion.

A call for expressions of interest was issued in June. The names of potential participants have not been disclosed.

DGD highlights that Dominica Electricity Services’ (Domlec) “existing 11 kV network is not capable of efficiently transmitting this power. So, it is planned that the network must operate at 69kV and 33kV levels and will be designed to support future growth of geothermal power and other renewable energy sources.”

The World Bank is helping finance the project, with documents due by December 29, according to procurement information.

Icelandic companies JRG and Ísor are supporting the project.

Dominica covers 750km2 and is home to 72,000 residents and is frequently impacted by Atlantic hurricanes and storms. Installed generation capacity is comprised of 20.1MW diesel and 6.6MW hydro.

Also Read Dominica’s commitment to renewable energy for economic sustainability