Seychelles to develop 5.8 MWp floating solar power plant

A 5.8 MWp floating solar power plant is set to be developed in Seychelles. This follows a power purchase agreement (PPA) inked between Independent Power Producer (IPP) Qair with the Republic of Seychelles’ Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) over the project. This is the Indian Ocean country’s first ever PPA.

The project will be set up in Providence Lagoon, near Mahé, the largest island in the Seychelles archipelago, located in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa. Qair will develop, build and operate the floating solar array on the lagoon of Providence, with construction due to start in the fourth quarter of 2023.

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Energy security

The electricity produced by the plant will be fed into the Seychelles national grid and PUC planned to negotiate the price per kWh at 9.5 cents. The PPA has a term of 25 years. The Providence solar project is supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) under its African Legal Support Facility (ALSF). In its development phase, the project has also received support from the Clinton Foundation, Trinity International and Multiconsult Norge, one of the leading engineering and design firms in Norway and Scandinavia.

“The floating solar power plant is a game changer for Seychelles, providing a reliable source of renewable energy and contributing to the country’s sustainable development. The project will not only contribute to the country’s energy security, but will also create employment opportunities and stimulate economic growth,” said Olivier Gaering, Qair’s Indian Ocean regional manager.