Solen SA Gabon, a subsidiary of Solen Renewable Dubai, has launched a 120 MWp solar power plant project in Gabon.
The project follows almost six months after the signing of the related framework agreement (in March 2022) between the Gabonese Minister of Energy and Hydraulic Resources, Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, and Praveen Pai, Solen’s Operations Manager. The company, which is implementing the power supply project, has until July 2023 to deliver the future installation.
The dubbed “Ayémé Plaine solar photovoltaic power plant will be located some thirty kilometres from the capital Libreville and spread over a 251 hectare site. Phase one of the project will see Solen SA Gabon install solar panels with a combined capacity of 60 MWp, equipped with a 15-hour battery energy storage system.
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Load shedding
An additional 60 MWp of solar photovoltaic panels will be developed in the second phase and will be equipped with a 15-hour battery energy storage system. This will form a 120 MWp solar power plant.
The aim is to complete the electricity mix in the Estuaire region in order to provide the population of this province with electricity that is both competitive and that will effectively help to solve the problem of load shedding. In addition, the future solar power plant will help reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the target area.
For the future solar power plant, Solen will finance, install and operate it. The company will sell its output to the Gabonese Water and Energy Company (SEEG) for 25 years under a power purchase agreement (PPA). In the long term, the Gabonese government aims to increase the share of renewable energy in its electricity mix to 80% by 2030.
