Voltalia breaks ground on 5.1-MW biomass plant in French Guiana

France-based renewable power plants operator Voltalia SA (EPA:VLTSA) has initiated the construction of a 5.1-MW biomass plant in French Guiana, targeting commissioning in 2020.

The company said last week that once it switches on the facility it will have six renewable installations in the French overseas department totalling 22.7 MW, including three solar, two biomass and one hydropower plant.

The so-called Cacao biomass facility will be located at the city with the same name in Roura area. Being designed by Voltalia, the plant will use locally-sourced wood waste as fuel and is expected to help save around 28,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year, once operational.

Voltalia expects to complete construction in about 30 months and bring the plant online in the first quarter of 2020.

French company Boccard SA and Uruguay-based Berkes will take care of providing and installing all major components for the project. The plant will be operated and maintained by Voltalia and will work under a 25-year contract with a secured tariff, bringing between EUR 10 million (USD 12.4m) and EUR 15 million in revenues per year. Generated electricity will be fed into the local power grid, Voltalia said.

(EUR 1.0 = USD 1.236)

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