Page 19 - AfrElec Week 46 2022
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AfrElec RENEWABLES AfrElec
Millennium Challenge
Corporation to suppport
off-grid in Benin
BENIN BENIN is to get a large-scale off-grid power giant EDF and Paris-based asset manager
project, following backing by US government Meridiam.
agency Millennium Challenge Corporation, With the backing of Millennium Challenge
Bloomberg has reported. Corp, NEoT Offgrid Africa will build a 1.7MW
The project will be the first of its kind in fran- solar power project, with 3 MWh of battery
cophone West Africa. capacity. It is due to be completed within a year
The initiative, which will cost $8.8mn, is a and is being seen as a pilot project for future reg-
battery and solar project that will electrify 12 ulated off-grid electrification in Benin.
rural villages and power more than 5,000 homes The project will be developed by GDS Inter-
and businesses. national and will be co-constructed by GDS
The off-grid power project is to be co-fi- International and ARESS, under the joint ven-
nanced by NEoT Offgrid Africa, an energy ture name Les Soleils du Bénin.
investment platform founded by French energy
Conenergy invests in
Morocco-UK developer Xlinks
MOROCCO GERMAN energy consultant Conenergy plans nearly 20 hours per day by 2030.
to invest in the Morocco-UK marine cable pro- UK energy experts, engineers, and contrac-
ject Xlinks, which aims to supply the UK exclu- tors work jointly with their Moroccan counter-
sively with renewable energy, according to a parts. Xlinks has said it could finish the project
statement from the firm on Monday (November by 2030.
14). Last week, Morocco signed MoU agreements
The size of the investment and the plan details with France, Germany, Portugal, and Spain to
were not made public. support the integration of green electricity mar-
The 10GW Xlinks facility, the largest of its kets in Europe within its efforts to mitigate cli-
kind in the world, will provide green energy mate change.
through four 3,800 km submarine HVDC – The agreements were signed in Egypt’s Sharm
high-voltage, direct current – cables enough El Sheikh on the sidelines of the UN climate
to cover energy needs for 7mn UK homes for summit COP 27.
Week 46 16•November•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P19
