Electricity and Control June 2021

RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS IN AFRICA

US$27 million loan for Kom Ombo solar power plant

are proud to play a key role in supporting South Africa’s decarbonisation efforts, and are grateful to our partners for contributing to our mission to deliver power and desalinated water reliably and responsibly at an affordable cost. Following the record-breaking Bokpoort CSP and deploying the same thermal salt storage system, Redstone CSP is set to be another ACWA Power flagship project in South Africa that directly benefits households in the area with notable plant performance.” Redstone CSP will displace an estimated 440 metric tons of CO 2 emissions per year. The project is certified under the Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme and is aligned with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement which seeks to limit global warming to less than 2°C. Developed within South Africa’s REIPPP Programme, in addition to delivering clean energy to the national grid efficiently, theRedstoneproject will offer real socioeconomic value by offering job opportunities and using local supply chains. The project will reach close to 44% local content on procurement during the construction period; create more than 2 000 construction jobs at peak, with about 400 within the local community; and create about 100 permanent direct jobs during the operating period. As part of its implicit social contract, Redstone CSP will provide value-adding ancillary services required by the system operator at no cost to the public utility Eskom, which marks a first for a renewable energy plant in the country. improves power flexibility, enhances the combustion system, improves fuel efficiency, extends maintenance intervals for the combustor, hot section and major overhaul and lowers maintenance costs. “We are honoured by the trust placed by Songas in our team’s ability to execute critical maintenance work at the power plant, and we have delivered on that trust,” said Elisee Sezan, CEO of GE Gas Power Sub-Saharan Africa. “This project illustrates our commitment to work with our customers, like Songas, to provide industry-leading technologies and advanced services that help power plant operators around the world meet their operational needs and fuel the economic growth of the countries where they operate,” he added. With almost 70 years in sub-Saharan Africa, GE has been collaborating with energy stakeholders to deploy innovative technologies tailored to respond to the needs of the region with reliable baseload and flexible power. GE delivers across the energy ecosystem, from generation to transmission and distribution, and throughout the region, GE-built technologies are supported by GE local service and maintenance teams working closely with FieldCore to help ensure access to reliable and sustainable energy. For more information visit: www.acwapower.com/en

In March this year the African Development Bank’s Board of Directors approved US$27.2 million in loan financing for the design, construction and operation of a 200 MW photovoltaic solar power plant at Kom Ombo, in Upper Egypt on the river Nile. The project is expected to lower electricity costs for businesses and residences, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating construction and other jobs. The project’s total cost is estimated at $156.4 million. In addition to the Bank’s financing, structured as a senior loan, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Arab Bank and the OPEC Fund for International Development will contribute funding. The plant, 800 km south of Cairo, is owned by Saudi Arabian developer, investor and operator of power generation plants internationally, ACWA Power. “We are delighted to support this project that will deliver one of the lowest generation tariffs on the continent,” said Kevin Kariuki, the Bank’s Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth. “The project supports Egypt’s energy transition and contributes towards the country’s achievement of its targeted 20% share of renewables by 2022.” Egypt’s economy has continued to grow during the Covid-19 pandemic, and its electricity demands are increasing at an average annual rate of 7%. By increasing Egypt’s installed power generation capacity from renewable sources, the plant is forecast to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 7 million tonnes CO2e equivalent over a 25-year period. During the construction phase, 800 jobs will be created. Egypt’s electricity grid is linked to those of its neighbours Libya and Sudan, and the plant has the potential to contribute to energy trading and electricity access in the region. The project aligns with Egypt’s national Integrated Sustainable Energy Strategy and the Bank’s New Deal on Energy for Africa, which aims to increase the share of renewable energy through innovative financing in Africa’s energy sector. The project also advances the institution’s Light Up and Power Africa High-5 strategic priority.

For more information visit www.AfDB.org

For more information visit: www.GE.com

Electricity + Control JUNE 2021

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