Senelec contracts Infinity’s 40-MW battery project in Senegal

Infinity Power, a joint venture between Egypt’s Infinity and UAE’s Masdar, has sealed a 20-year capacity change agreement related to a 40-MW/160-MWh battery energy storage systems (BESS) project with Senegal’s national electricity company Senelec.

Infinity Power will build the battery at the Tobene substation in the city of Thies. Construction works are set to start in early 2024 while the commissioning is expected in 2025.

The project will be operated by Infinity Power’s 158.7-MW Parc Eolien Taiba N’Diaye (PETN) wind farm situated about 70 km north of Dakar which could be expanded. PETN has entered into talks with engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firms and project finance lenders to work out the technical side of the battery project.

The planned facility, described as one of the largest of its kind in West Africa, will help Senelec stabilise the country’s electricity grid and pave the way for further renewable energy growth in Senegal. It will cut the company’s dependence on reserve capacity derived from thermal plants and save the grid an estimated USD 165 million (EUR 154.4m) over its operating life, according to a statement released today.

Lekela Power, owned by Infinity Power, had secured a grant from the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) for the BESS project to fund initial feasibility studies at the site and the analysis necessary to implement and operate the system.

(USD 1 = EUR 0.936)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!