By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
The Consolidated Commission on Utilities is inclined to explore the nuclear energy option for Guam to supplement the island's renewable mix, according to Commissioner Simon Sanchez.
"It's renewable, it's clean and it's very efficient," Sanchez said Friday at the Industry Forum organized by the Society of Military Engineers Guam Post at Dusit Thani Resort.
The CCU first adopted a nuclear energy policy in 2011, noting that such a potential energy source could lead to significant savings in energy costs.
Solar energy is currently Guam's only renewable source, which is projected to yield about 400 to 456 megawatts of capacity by July 2028, Sanchez said.
“I really think nuclear (energy) can play a role here. We're going to keep looking at it until the price points get down,” Sanchez said.
The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee last year recommended a study on the potential use of microreactors to supplement Guam's power supply.
In January, the Strategic Capabilities Office under the Secretary of Defense said Guam was among the U.S. locations being eyed to pilot Project Pele’s portable microreactors prototype.
These proposals have prompted the introduction of a bill that would ban nuclear fission power production and use on Guam. Pending action in the 37th Guam Legislature, Bill 151-37 would prohibit the construction and importation of small modular reactors or nuclear microreactors to the island.
Sanchez, however, pointed out that “we don’t need a super-duper nuclear facility, but we can do it."
Energy officials said portable microreactors can generate up to five megawatts of electricity and are transported by truck, rail or plane to forward operating bases.
The Guam Power Authority's Clean Energy Master Plan aims at providing 50 percent of the island's electric power from renewable sources by 2030 and 100 percent by 2040
Until the cost of nuclear power production goes down, Sanchez said Guam will continue developing conventional renewables to “bring down the cost of power while still keeping the system, the service, reliable and affordable.”
The commissioner said the projected solar capacity in 2028 would meet the existing demand. “Then our reserve, which is really the key for us," he said. “By July of 2028, we will have another 205MW capacity of reserve for growth.”
The Dandan solar farm built in 2015 generates 25MW of power, while the facility in Mangilao, which opened in 2022, produces 60MW.
“To see that many solar panels in a little island is pretty striking. When it's up there and it's generating, it generates good energy today at a great price that will overcurrent the end,” Sanchez said. “We added batteries to the system to deal with intermittency. That was the first investment in batteries."
The 198MW combined cycle plant, still under construction in Ukudu, is anticipated to be completed soon.
“Now, we are about to award phase 4 renewables and every renewable asset. So far, all the bids are solar,” Sanchez said.
The 275MW wind turbine project proposed by the Department of the Interior for Guam in 2015 remains stalled. “It hasn't worked for a long time. We list it, but we don't count on it,” Sanchez said.
This year, the U.S. government revived the wind turbine plan as part of federal plans to tap renewable energy across the United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management are preparing a siting study and environmental assessment to guide the planning for offshore wind turbines for Guam.
Sanchez said increasing Guam’s renewable capacity will decrease the island’s annual fossil fuel purchase from 3 million barrels to 1.3 million barrels by 2028.
“As more renewables come online, we use less fuel, our bills go down,” he said.
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