Yingli Green Energy Spain recently announced an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for a 2MW ground-mounted solar farm in Senegal.
The agreement was struck with Senelec; the stated owned utility company of Senegal.
The facility will supply solar electricity to the new international Diamniadio conference center in Dakar. Construction will begin this month and the solar farm is expected to be operational by November this year. Yingli multicrystalline solar panels will be used in the project and are anticipated to generate 3.7 MWh of electricity annually – enough to power more than 1,000 average Senagalese homes.
“This project is an opportunity for Yingli Solar to integrate its technology in the west African energy market and an opportunity for Senelec to build the future of clean energy in Senegal,” said Mr Papa DIENG, General Manager of Senelec. “With this project, Senelec realizes the vision of the President Macky Sall, for an energy mix giving more place to clean energy,” .
“This turnkey project is a new milestone for the Company’s development in emerging markets and will enhance our position as a solar energy solutions provider throughout Africa,” said Mr. Liansheng Miao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yingli Green Energy. “We are committing to promoting the development of clean energy in Africa through our expertises and high-quality products.”
According to a 2012 International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) document; Senegal’s energy policy aims to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuel products by boosting the share of renewable energy and biofuels in the country’s energy mix by at least 15% by 2020. Senegal’s major source of electricity is mostly diesel and gas.
“The Government of Senegal is confident that, with international cooperation, particularly with IRENA, our country will soon reach its goals of promoting renewable energies to become a model in the ECOWAS region,” said Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, Minister of Mines and Energy. ECOWAS is the Economic Community Of West African States.
