Page 41 - Energize November 2021

TECHNICAL

Power developments in Africa

Compiled by Roger Lilley, Now Media

Soft drink bottler opts for solar power New wind farm tender out
Over the next six years, Daystar Power will build rooftop solar plants for five of soft drink NamPower, the Namibian power company,
manufacturer Seven-Up Bottling Company’s (SBC’s) plants with a combined capacity of 10,5 MW. is implementing the 40 MW Rosh Pinah
The systems will be installed in Abuja, Lagos (Ikeja), Ibadan and Ilorin. The company estimates wind project, which is currently out to
that these installations will enable the soft drink manufacturer to reduce its emissions of CO 2 tender. The state-owned company wants
equivalent by 24 224 t over the 20-year life of the plants. The facilities are also expected to save to recruit a company to handle the
up to 40% on SBC’s electricity costs. engineering, procurement and construction
(EPC) of the wind farm, which will be
located in the Sperrgebiet National Park
Power pool expansion on Waste-to-power plant on Namibia’s Atlantic coast. This will be
the cards planned Namibia’s second wind farm after the
5 MW Ombepo wind farm. Another wind
The US Trade and Development Agency Tanzania Electric Supply Company farm, Diaz Wind Farm, with a capacity of
(USTDA) is providing a grant for a feasibility (TANESCO) estimates the electricity needs 44 MW, will be located near the town of
study to expand the West African Power of Mafia Island in the Pwani Region at Lüderitz in southwestern Namibia.
Pool (WAPP). The study will assess the 2200 kWh. Currently, the 60 000 residents
technical and economic viability of of Mafia meet a large part of this
constructing a 643 km 225 kV transmission need (2180 kWh) with generators. The Electric vehicles for Africa
line and distribution equipment from United Nations Industrial Development
Ivory Coast to Liberia. It will also include Organization (UNIDO) aims to improve Opibus, a Swedish and Kenyan-based
recommendations on the institutional and the electricity supply on Mafia Island company, is raising US$7,5 million, at
commercial framework of the project as well from renewable energy sources (biomass COP26 in Glasgow, to begin production of
as the preparation of bidding documents and biogas). It is expected that 1-million its electric vehicles in 2022. The company
for US companies. WAPP seeks to improve tons of CO 2 equivalent will be avoided assembles electric motorcycles capable
access to affordable and climate-friendly with the implementation of the agro- of replacing conventional (combustion)
electricity for the citizens of the Community industrial waste-to-energy project on the motorcycles, a mode of transportation
of West African States (ECOWAS). island of Mafia. that has become widely democratized
in sub-Saharan Africa. The start-up
also assembles fully electric all-terrain
Hydrogen facility to create thousands of job opportunities vehicles and converts conventional
buses into fully electric cars. The project
The government of Namibia has selected Hyphen Hydrogen Energy to develop a hydrogen includes the establishment of a complete
project involving the use of renewable energy. By 2030, Hyphen hopes to have 5000 MW of ecosystem for electric mobility, including
power generation capacity and 3000 MW of electrolysis capacity. The combined facilities will charging and energy solutions. The
produce 300 000 tons of green hydrogen per year, with an estimated overall investment of company already has customers in six
US$9,4-billion. According to Hyphen, the establishment of the production facilities will create African countries.
15 000 direct jobs during the four years of construction, with an additional 3000 permanent
jobs during the operational phase.
Health facilities and
schools to benefit from
Solar plant to improve Villagers to benefit from solar power
energy mix solar power
Health facilities in 20 Togolese localities
Electricity Generation Company (Malawi) Although electricity in Madagascar is still a will now be connected to solar mini-grids.
Limited (Egenco) has awarded the luxury for many households, especially in rural The project was supported by a grant from
construction of the first phase of its Salima areas, Welight has been electrifying villages the United States Agency for International
solar power plant to Chint. The Chinese for the past three years. To date, 35 Malagasy Development (USAID) under the Power
company will build a solar power plant localities have received small solar power Africa initiative. With a production capacity
with a capacity of 10 MW. Although Chint plants with battery storage systems and mini of 40 kW, KYA-Energy Group invested in the
is only responsible for the installation of networks to serve local populations. Smart solar electrification of 20 health centres
the solar plant, the state-owned power meters in consumers’ homes provide prepaid in Togo. Furthermore, the centres have
company wants to include battery storage electricity through mobile money solutions. received solar powered automatic hand
to optimize the power output of its solar The services allow villages to benefit from wash stations and cell phone charging tables
plant. The solar park is the first phase of a public lighting, as well as the electrification of in order to generate additional income for
project to enable Egenco to inject 20 MW public services such as health centres, town the maintenance of the facilities and to
of clean energy into its power grid. halls, schools and police stations. ensure the sustainability of the equipment.

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