Guyana’s electricity requirements are projected to increase dramatically over the next five years, with total energy generation expected to rise more than five-fold by 2030, according to the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL).
The projection is contained in GPL’s Development and Expansion Programme 2026-2030, which outlines plans to transform the electricity sector to meet rapidly increasing demand while improving reliability, affordability and sustainability.
According to the document, total energy generation is projected to climb from approximately 2,000 GWh in 2026 to about 10,441 GWh by 2030.
Peak demand is also expected to increase sharply, moving from 318 MW in 2026 to approximately 1,671 MW by 2030, an increase of more than 1,350 MW within five years.
GPL described the projected increase as “explosive growth,” averaging approximately 45 to 50 per cent annually.
The utility said the surge is being driven by economic and population growth, major industrial developments, new housing, increased electricity consumption and the expected expansion of electric vehicle use.
Among the significant new loads are multiple data centres, which could account for 200 MW by 2028, along with a natural gas-based fertiliser plant expected to require approximately 10 MW. GPL is also tracking 77 Major Infrastructure Developments, including airports, ports, factories, hotels and hospitals, which could collectively add approximately 90 MW of demand by 2030.
Housing development is also expected to place greater pressure on the system. Approximately 40,565 new homes are anticipated to be connected to GPL between 2026 and 2030, adding an estimated 146 MW of residential demand by the end of the period.
GPL projects its customer base will increase from approximately 252,720 in 2026 to 289,664 by 2030, primarily through residential connections. The planned integration of Linden, which has more than 13,165 customers, by 2029 would further increase the overall number of customers.
The Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS), which serves the majority of Guyana’s population, is expected to carry most of the increased demand. Energy usage on the DBIS is forecast to rise from approximately 1,902 GWh in 2026 to 9,848 GWh in 2030, while peak load is projected to jump from approximately 304 MW to 1,575 MW.
GPL said the projections point to the need for immediate expansion of generation capacity and investment in the electricity network.
“The demand forecast underscores that urgent capacity additions and network investments are needed immediately,” the document states.
According to GPL, without new generation, its existing capacity would fall critically short, with the DBIS facing frequent supply deficits as early as April or May 2026.
The company said the forecast represents a shift for Guyana’s electricity sector “from slow, incremental growth to a transformative expansion era,” requiring the coordinated expansion of generation, network and institutional capacity on a scale never before seen in the country.
