Remote, luxury island requires reliable power generation
Chad Dozier looks at the role generator sets play in providing power services to the island of Mustique.
P
roviding power to a mainland community presents challenges for any utility, but ensuring power to an island community takes a committed company and the most reliable equipment available. Such is the
case with the Mustique Company, which manages all of the operations of the island of Mustique. Mustique is approximately 5.7 square kilometres
(2.2 square miles) in size and is located 32 kilometres (20 miles) south of St. Vincent in the Grenadine Islands. A world-renowned vacation destination, its remote location offers a backdrop of elegance, luxury and privacy for more than 90 villas belonging to celebrities and dignitaries. Te homeowners own the Mustique Company, a limited private company on a long-term lease from the St. Vincent and Grenadine government. It provides day-to-day services including utilities and power generation. Tourism is the mainstay of Mustique’s economy and demands reliable power during its peak season from December to April, averaging 3.3MW at any given
38
www.engineerlive.com
time. Te off season averages 1.4MW – a load that must be maintained for residents and businesses to survive. Te island’s clientele has invested their money in the Mustique Company and, in turn, has high expectations for 24/7 power.
Generator sets For 40 years, the Mustique Company has utilised Cat generator sets to provide power services to the island. In 2007, they were interested in updating their equipment to not only meet their power requirements, but also to increase their efficiency and overall revenue. Mustique representatives contacted Barbados-based Cat Dealer RIMCO for a solution that would meet their needs. An evaluation by RIMCO determined that a Cat C175-16 diesel generator set would best suit the Mustique Company’s power needs. Its size and design fit into an existing area that housed four Cat 3516 generator sets in use at the time. Te C175 would also require less insulation and fewer accessories while providing the same power output as the pre-existing units.
Fig. 1. The island of Mustique is a remote, luxury getaway for celebrities and dignitaries, who invest in a limited private company, the Mustique Company, to ensure reliable day-to-day services, including power.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68