A production line for solar thermal collectors will be opened in Ghana. It is the purpose of a framework agreement that has just been signed between the Pelktec company and Absolicon, a manufacturer of solar thermal energy production equipment based in Härnösand in Sweden. The future plant will be equipped with two six-axis robots capable of producing 50 MW of solar collectors per year.
Absolicon estimates (based on its production capacity) the value of the sale of solar collectors from the future plant to be between 20 and 25 million dollars. To reach this capacity, Pelktec, the owner of the plant, will first have to develop the solar thermal market for Ghanaian industries, and for the entire West African sub-region. This is why Absolicon has committed to support Pelktec by providing marketing and technical support, development and training of its teams.
According to Absolicon, when in full operation, the production line will purchase materials for 10 to 15 million euros per year. At least 20 to 30 per cent of its transactions will be with Absolicon and 70 to 80 per cent with local subcontractors.
The additional benefit for Absolicon
The Pelktec plant will produce T160 sensors, a technology patented by Absolicon. “The total value of sales covered by the agreement is estimated at between 4 million and 5 million euros, plus a monthly license fee of 4% and component sales,” notes the specialist. Pelktec will pay €800,000 in license fees each year to Absolicon.
“The potential market in Ghana for a production line supplying Absolicon’s T160 solar collectors is 4.2 million m², equivalent to 770,000 solar collectors or 7662 GWh of electricity, which would reduce the country’s industry’s CO² emissions by 68% when oil is replaced as a fuel,” says the Swedish company. The solar collectors will help Pelktec in its projects. In Ghana, the company is active in several sectors, including water, energy and waste management.
Jean Marie Takouleu