New clean energy technologies are helping Madagascar in its electrification process. The large island is thus benefiting from the new Solar GEM®️. These mobile containerised units are pre-assembled by Akuo Energy, a French producer of renewable energy. As part of a project developed in partnership with Enelec, a subsidiary of the Filatex Group, 44 of these clean energy units have been installed in Tuléar, in the south of Madagascar.
Each unit is made up of 200 solar panels capable of delivering nearly 66 kWp, for a combined capacity of 2.9 MWp. “The pre-assembled and pre-wired units can be deployed in just 30 minutes and folded up in 45 minutes. They therefore have the advantage that they can be moved between periods of harsh weather conditions, offering protection solutions in areas where the climate is unstable,” says Akuo Energy.
A project funded by Atmosfair
The project, which required an investment of €6 million, has received long-term funding from Atmosfair, an organisation based in Bonn, Germany, whose main mission is to provide offsets for greenhouse gases emitted by aircraft, cruise ships, long-distance coaches and events. On the big island, its ambition is to contribute to the development of renewable energies.
“We are enabling Tulear to green its energy production and giving the inhabitants access to an essential need while respecting the environment. We are also beginning a phase of industrialisation of our hybrid solutions. It is a great pride for Akuo to announce the entry into service of this power plant,” says Eric Scotto, president and co-founder of Akuo Energy.
According to the company, which employs 189 people (2019), the containerised solar system in Tuléar should help improve access to electricity in Madagascar. According to the World Bank’s 2018 report, 75% of the island’s population does not yet have access to electricity.
Jean Marie Takouleu