Page 12 - AfrElec Week 37 2021

AfrElec NEWS IN BRIEF AfrElec

POWER 100% solar energy. SOL AR
The entire project will contribute
German tech used to boost immensely to the supply of clean water Norway’s Scatec to build
and mitigate hunger through saline water
power and desalination in farming. Using the waste water of the hybrid hydro and solar
desalination machine will also create more
Kenya job opportunities for the population living in power plant in Africa
Marsabit.
On the 22nd of September 2021, one of the “Bubisa WaterKiosk is a unique role model The Norwegian government has decided to
largest water desalination projects, and the for unprivileged poor-rural communities support, with NOK79 million ($9.1 million),
first of its kind in Africa will be launched in where water, electricity and food supply is a research project led by Norway-based
Marsabit County. It delivers over 11,000litres a challenge. We believe many other parts of renewable energy developer Scatec and aimed
of hygienic drinking water per hour, with a Africa may learn from the best practice of at developing a large scale, hybrid hydro and
capacity of providing water to over 30,000 Bubisa for their future adaptation to climate floating solar power plant at an undisclosed
community members in a radius of 5km water change impacts,” says Dr Hamed Beheshti, location in West Africa.
points, which will be distributed through 24 CEO of Boreal Light GmbH. Dr Thomas The Norwegian consortium includes
fully automated water ATMs. Berger, Board member Cargo Human Care floating PV specialist Ocean Sun, independent
Bubisa WaterKiosk is 46 kilometers from e.V, adds: “The concept of producing clean research organization Sintef, software provider
Marsabit town and the main economic and safe drinking water for a population with Prediktor, the Institute for Energy Technology
activities practiced there is pastoralism and the help of a desalination plant will not only (IFE), and Norwegian solar industry body the
running small scale businesses. The area be a significant improvement in the health of Solenergiklyngen.
experiences great difficulties in accessing the people in Bubisa but also improvement “[A] Scatec power plant will be planned,
hygienic drinking water amidst a harsh of the infrastructure of this village. This pilot for hybrid hydropower and floating solar
climate. For further information see the project can contribute to enable people in right from the beginning, as a first in the
IDTechEx report on Desalination: Off Grid other regions to have access to safe water.” world,” Ocean Sun CEO Børge Bjørneklett
Zero Emission 2018-2028. The Delegation of German Industry and told pv magazine. “Normally, floating solar
To meet the circular economy Commerce for Eastern Africa is proud to have power is an add-on to existing hydropower
characteristics of the project, two hectares of continuously assisted Boreal Light GmbH plants but this project will be developed
saline water farming have been integrated, through participation in several of its projects specifically as a greenfield combo plant with
utilizing the wastewater from the desalination and business delegations and is looking overall low LCOE. PV and hydropower are
machine. This is the best practice of a truly forward to further cooperation. complementary on a seasonal basis and
sustainable journey between the German hydropower can convert intermittent PV into
company Boreal Light GmbH, WaterKiosk higher-value steady power.”
Africa and Cargo Human Care e.V.s, Caritas The project includes the development of a
Germany and Pacida Kenya. The project AHK EASTERN AFRICA platform for planning, scaling, and optimizing
implements water infrastructure in one of the the operation of hybrid power plants.
most remote parts of the country and utilizes According to Bjørneklett, the optimization
of the two power-generating elements gives
benefits for water remediation technology
and the dimensioning of the reservoir
and the basin, as well as for defining early
production levels from the solar plant during
the construction phase. The project will also
explore adaptations of the Ocean Sun system
for amphibious use during the gradual filling
of the reservoir.”
According to him, reduced water
evaporation and PV cooling effects will be
of key importance in the project. “Together
with Prediktor and internet-of-things
experts, the consortium will develop novel
control mechanisms for the optimization
and fine-tuning of the hybrid power [plant’s]
production,” the CEO stated.
Scatec recently acquired the SN Power
hydropower operator belonging to Norwegian
state-owned private equity business Norfund.
SN Power has 2.5 GW of hydro assets in Asia
and sub-Saharan Africa. “Hydropower and
solar PV are complementary technologies,
resulting in new project opportunities, for
instance floating solar on hydro reservoirs,”

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