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400 MW.? “Work has already been completed second phase due online in 2025. West Province.
on the extension of the dam’s control station, EDF holds the majority 60% stake in Taza The Bokamoso solar power plant consists
which dates from 2013, to accommodate the I, while Mitsui holds the remaining 40%. of 236,580 panels installed on a 150-hectare
additional electricity that will be generated Taza I has a 20-year power purchase site. The park, whose construction started in
by the solar farm built on 297 hectares. The agreement (PPA) with the National Office of 2018, is capable of producing 177,660 MWh
facility is expected to operate for 25 years, Electricity and Drinking Water (Onee) and of electricity per year.
before the solar panels are recycled and the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy The electricity generated by the solar
replaced”, says BPA. (Masen). power plant is fed into the grid of the state-
The first stage of Bui’s solar project will Bruno Bensasson, EDF group senior owned company Eskom under a 20-year
produce 50 MWp, with 10 MWp of that by executive vice-president renewable Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The solar
October 2020. The remaining 40 MWp will energies and chief executive officer of EDF project is being developed by a consortium
be produced before the end of 2020. The Renewables, said the wind farm will help the formed by the Ideas Fund (managed by Old
electricity generated by the first plants should company meet its target of increasing global Mutual), Reatile Solar Power, Phakwe Solar,
make it possible to supply additional homes net renewable capacity from 28GW to 50GW Business Venture Investments and the Cicada
in Ghana. between 2015 and 2030. Community Trust.
The full implementation of the Bui solar Taza I has received financial backing from The concession was obtained from the
project (250 MWp) will require an investment the Japan Bank for International Cooperation South African government under the fourth
of $480mn (about 3bn Ghanaian cedis). (JBIC), Nippon Export and Investment tender window of the Renewable Independent
The funds will come from the Ghanaian Insurance (NEXI), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Power Purchasing Program (REIPPP). This
government, which aims to diversify the Corporation (SMBC), MUFG Bank, Ltd., as phase of the South African government’s
country’s electricity mix by producing well as the Moroccan lender Bank of Africa. clean energy program has resulted in several
renewable energy. It is Mitsui’s first renewable energy projects within the Rainbow Nation. This is
The Bui Power Authority has also received investment in Morocco. the case of the Excelsior wind farm located in
approval from the Government of Ghana the Western Cape Province. With a capacity
to develop a 1 MWp floating solar power of 33 MW, the facility is owned by BioTherm
plant on the reservoir of the Bui Dam. The Energy, an independent power producer (IPP)
current project is the first of its kind to be SOL AR based in Johannesburg, South Africa.
implemented in Ghana. Part of the revenue from the sale of
SA’s Bokamoso PV plant electricity from the Bokamoso solar park will
be used to finance a development program
opens for communities living 50 km away from the
WIND facility. This local development program will
The Bokamoso photovoltaic solar power plant affect several sectors including education,
EDF, Mitsui begin building has just been commissioned in South Africa. youth development, and health and food
security. It will also benefit local micro, small
The 68MWp facility is owned by a
Moroccan wind farm consortium formed by the Ideas Fund and medium enterprises through the creation
of a local resource centre for “skills training”.
(managed by Old Mutual), Reatile Solar
Developer EDF Renewables and investment Power, Phakwe Solar, Business Venture
firm Mitstui have started construction of a Investments and the Cicada Community
new 87MW wind farm in northern Morocco. Trust.
The project partners’ 87MW Taza (phase Another clean energy generation facility
I) project will consist of 27 GE turbines with has just been commissioned in South Africa.
power ratings of 3.23MW and is due online This time it is a 68MWp photovoltaic solar
in 2021. They are also developing a 63MW park located in Leeudoringstad in the North

Week 38 24•September•2020 www. NEWSBASE .com P13