Page 13 - AfrElec Week 08

AfrElec
NEWS IN BRIEF
AfrElec
towards comprehensive sustainability in the sector, he added.
Shaker remarked that Egypt has rich renewable energy sources, specifically in regards to wind and solar energy.
The electrical capacity that can be produced from these sources is around 90GW, he said, which prompted the ministry to allocate more than 7,600 square km of land to renewable energy investment projects.
The West Bakr Wind project is set to provide 250MW of capacity at a site on the Gulf of Suez, 30km north-west of Ras Ghareb. The project will provide power to the grid from 2021.
The project should increase Egypt’s wind energy capacity by 18%, a key part of meeting the state’s renewable energy target of 20% by 2022.
Mott MacDonald supports
1.5GW solar complex in
Egypt
The UK’s Mott MacDonald has completed
its contract to provide environmental and social construction monitoring services for the construction of the Benban solar complex in Egypt, Africa’s largest grid connected solar park.
The $2.6bn solar farm boasts an installed
capacity of 1.5GW, generated by 6mn solar panels covering 27 square km.
The project will meet 3% of Egypt’s electricity requirements, power 1mn homes, and lower CO2 emissions by 1.9m tonnes per year.
Mott MacDonald was contracted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporate (IFC) to provide technical and advisory services during the project and on an ongoing basis.
The firm provided advisory services
to manage waste and wastewater, labour
and working conditions, water sourcing, hazardous materials and traffic management.
The consultancy has also been providing technical advisory services for the IFC portfolio, which brought the projects to successful financial close. The complex has now entered commercial operation and Mott MacDonald continues to provide services during the operational phase.
Project director at Mott MacDonald Rachel Watson said: “The Benban project shows that the impact of Mott MacDonald’s environmental and social leadership can extend further than a single development. This contributes to Mott MacDonald’s wider goal to enable infrastructure developments that respect and protect natural and community values and workers welfare.”
Raymi Craig Beltran, global E&S sector lead for Mining and Energy, IFC said:
“Bringing the Benban Solar Park into operations has been a challenging but rewarding process and is witness to how the various environmental, social and health
and safety (ESHS) risks of this complex project can be addressed successfully through close collaboration and teamwork between Egyptian and international parties.
MOTT MACDONALD
SOLAR
Empower New Energy signs solar PPA in Ghana
Norway-based Empower New Energy has secured one of Africa’s first power purchase agreements (PPAs) for the supply of solar electricity.
Empower, which has a focus on project deployment in sub-Saharan Africa, said Ghanaian plastic manufacturer Miniplast Limited has agreed to buy electricity from a 704kW rooftop solar array to be installed on its manufacturing and recycling facility in Accra, in the Ghanaian capital.
“The plant will be installed and operated by Stella Futura Ltd under a power sales agreement signed between the three partners,” Empower New Energy said. “The investment will be made through a local project company majority owned by Empower Invest, the impact investment fund managed by Empower New Energy.” Stella Futura will act as EPC contractor for the project.
Norway-based Empower New Energy has secured one of Africa’s first power purchase agreements (PPAs) for the supply of solar electricity.
Empower, which has a focus on project deployment in sub-Saharan Africa, said Ghanaian plastic manufacturer Miniplast Limited has agreed to buy electricity from a 704kW rooftop solar array to be installed on its manufacturing and recycling facility in Accra, in the Ghanaian capital.
“The plant will be installed and operated by Stella Futura Ltd under a power sales agreement signed between the three partners,” Empower New Energy said. “The investment will be made through a local project company majority owned by Empower Invest, the impact investment fund managed by Empower New Energy.” Stella Futura will act as EPC contractor for the project.
Week 08 27•February•2020
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