Akuo, Enelec switch on pilot containerised solar plant in Madagascar

France’s Akuo Energy and Groupe Filatex have commissioned a 2.9-MWp solar plant in Madagascar consisting of containerised pre-assembled photovoltaic (PV) units.

The French renewable power producer is partnering in the project with Enelec, the energy unit of Madagascar-based renewable energy group Filatex.

The pilot portable PV plant, located in the port city of Tulear, uses 44 of Akuo’s Solar GEM containerised “plug and play” units, each of which uses 200 PV panels that are fully pre-assembled and pre-wired. The solution, Akuo says, is suitable for sites with harsh weather conditions and unstable environments due to the swift installation process and option for relocation.

The project, a first of its kind in Madagascar, required an investment of EUR 6 million (USD 7.1m). Part of this amount was funded by non-profit organization Atmosfair. If successful, Akuo and Enelec will roll out more similar power plants “in the months to come,” said Hasnaine Yavarhoussen, CEO of Groupe Filatex.

According to data by the World Bank, only 15% of Madagascar’s population has access to electricity. The local government has set a goal to extend energy access to 70% of the population by 2030.

(EUR 1.0 = USD 1.181)

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