Solar photovoltaic project to reduce electric bills |06 November 2015

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a 4 megawatt solar photovoltaic plant in Mahé is now being tendered out for independent power producers (IPP).

An IPP is an entity, which is not a public utility, but which owns facilities to generate electric power for sale to utilities and end users.

The tender process was launched on Thursday by the Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Didier Dogley, at the STC conference room, in the presence of chief executive (CEO) of Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) Philip Morin, CEO of Seychelles Energy Commission (Sec) Tony Imaduwa, among other stakeholders.

The Ministry of Environment, Energy, and Climate Change (MEECC) through Sec are collaborating with PUC, the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) and the Rocky Mountain Institute-Carbon War Room (RMI-CWR) to conduct the procurement process and secure an experienced and reputable bidder.

According to the principal officer for renewable energy and energy management (Reem) of Sec, Cynthia Alexander, the 40,000 meter square site for the solar farm is the lagoon at Providence and it is going to be a floating farm which could be easily relocated or removed.

The 4 megawatt solar project will supply almost 2% of the total demand of electricity to the island’s grid.

A more environmentally sustainable alternative to the existing fossil fuel based electricity generation on the island by utilising a local, renewable energy source.

This project will be the largest solar project in Seychelles and the first IPP power plant.

It also supports the government of Seychelles’ goal of reaching 5% electricity demand met by renewable energy by 2020 and 15% by 2030.

The tender will be conducted in two phases, the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and the Request for Proposals (RFP).

Sec will issue the RFQ for interested parties to qualify for the future RFP by submitting their qualifications for review. 

The successful bidder will build, own and operate the farm and the energy generated will be bought by PUC through a power purchase agreement.

CCI and RMI-CWR have also brought on DNV GL, an international engineering consultancy, to assist with the creation of tender documents and evaluation of bids.

Responses to the RFQ will be required by December 17, 2015, so the tender will remain open for a period of six weeks to allow businesses to get their qualification documents in order so that they can take part.

Minister Dogley said that with the budget we allocate for fossil fuels any rise in cost can be punitive and in some cases even lead to bankruptcy.

So there is no debate when it comes to embracing renewable energy to reduce electricity bills and have economic advantages.

“Renewable energy does not only provide countries with a better sense of energy security but it also assist them in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, which is primarily responsible for climate change,” he said.