Guernsey Electricity says Environment and Infrastructure’s 'Electricity Strategy' could allow the local power station's role to evolve.
E&I released their 'Electricity Strategy' earlier this week. The policy letter lists six pathways the island could take to increase electricity supply - considering affordability, the environment, and the security of supply.
Guernsey Electricity says Pathway D is its preferred approach.
It is the second lowest in cost and includes investing in offshore wind arrays and laying an additional cable to France.
Guernsey currently has one subsea cable getting supplies from France, via Jersey.
The utility says joining the island directly to the European grid would ensure the island had a good supply - and allow the Vale station to become a backup facility instead of a top-up.
The company's Chief Executive Alan Bates says something must be done to cope with increasing demand:
"Electricity demand is going to increase as we see more people using electric vehicles and electric heating.
It could go up to 150 megawatts, which is 50% more than what we are seeing today.
We haven’t got that capacity both from a generation perspective, but more importantly, from a grid perspective."
He added Pathway A, the "base case", would be the worst-case scenario:
"To carry on as we are, which is Pathway A, has been shown to be more expensive and more polluting than doing the right thing that’s actually investing more into connection, putting some more local renewables in. That’s the optimal pathway, both from an environmental and cost perspective.
I think bills will have to rise, but I think that’s just generally the way of the world at the moment.
I think we’re trying to do is make sure that the most affordable transition that we can plan as an island and that’s where this electricity strategy really sets out a clear route forward."
E&I hopes the States will discuss the 'Electricity Strategy' in July.
Before then, Guernsey Electricity is offering public tours of the Vale power station. It hopes to give the public an insight into the utility's work before the potential impact of the policy letter.
The visits, which can be booked for free online, explore the different generators, the control room, and the underground tunnel.
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