UK based firm, VINCI Energies has won a €26.9 million (US$31.5 million) contract to build eight PV power plants in Senegal with a combined capacity of 17MW.
The contract was awarded by Senelec and will be undertaken by Omexom, VINCI’s brand dedicated to energy transition, with investment financed by German development bank KfW and Senelec.
PV power plants will be constructed over a 10 month period followed by a handover scheduled for July 2018.
Yves Meignié, VINCI Energies chairman, said: “We are proud to support Senegal in its drive to achieve its energy transition goals. Thanks to our teams on the spot we were able to put together the required resources and skills to build this project, which will be executed within the record 10 month timeframe.”
The solar plants will have a total of 62,859 solar panels and include generator sets and batteries that will spread across four regions; the Saloum Islands, Thies, Tambakounda and Kolda.
The project in Thies is the largest with 15MW capacity and directly connected to the grid. The other seven plants will have a combined capacity of 2MW with a hybrid PV diesel design, some will include battery storage.
Power supply needs for up to 140,000 people will be met and the project will prevent 18,919 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.
Just over half of Senegal’s population have access to electricity, according to World Bank Group data which currently have key support projects in Senegal.
Senegal’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) include targets for the production of electricity with an increase of solar PV up to 160MW as well as an increase in rural electrification partly through mini grid installations.