Guinea-Bissau solar power hybrid system

Will China build Guinea-Bissau's first solar power plant?

A Chinese state-owned company has been contracted to build Guinea-Bissau’s first large scale photovoltaic project, the Gardete solar power plant. The African Biofuel and Renewable Energy Company (ABREC), which promotes renewables and energy efficiency in several countries, has awarded the contract to China’s hydropower entity, Sinohydro.

Where will a solar power plant be built in Guinea Bissau?

The other small hybrid solar power plant will be built in the Gabu region in eastern Guinea Bissau. The plant equipped with a battery storage system and back-up generators (diesel), will also be capable of generating 1 MW. The solar hybrid plant will supply electricity to the local population via a medium and low-voltage line.

Will Sinohydro build a hybrid power plant in Guinea-Bissau?

The contract between Sinohydro and the State of Guinea-Bissau across the Abrec River also includes the construction of two hybrid power plants that will combine solar panels with diesel generators. A small plant will be built in Canchungo, a town of more than 7,000 inhabitants in the west of the country.

Does Guinea-Bissau have solar power?

Guinea-Bissau relies on fossil fuels and solar has seen limited development, with the exception of rural electrification initiatives. The nation has one of the lowest electrification rates in Africa, as well as electricity prices among the highest on the continent.

How much power does Guinea-Bissau have?

The AfDB recently stated Guinea-Bissau has only 11MW of installed power generation capacity, almost all of being thermal generation. “Real capacity is only 8MW, only 5MW of which is available 24 hours per day due to the maintenance required and the inability of the electric power utility to obtain the necessary fuel,” a report by the bank said.