Japan helps Seychelles develop a microgrid deployment plan |23 June 2016
Japan is helping Seychelles develop a microgrid deployment plan.
To that effect, a one-day experience-sharing workshop was held yesterday on the development of microgrids integrating renewable energy in small islands based on Japan’s experience in its remote islands and on a project in Seychelles carried out by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).
The workshop, held at the Eden Bleu Hotel on Eden Island, was jointly organised by the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, the Seychelles Energy Commission (Sec), the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) and Jica.
The workshop gathered energy experts from five countries of the Indian Ocean region namely Seychelles, Mauritius including Rodrigues, Comoros and Maldives as well as Sao Tome and Principe.
The aim of the workshop was for Jica to present the result of the above mentioned project. It also explored opportunities for collaboration as well as to allow all islands attending to present their countries’ renewable energy situations and to share experiences.
Present at the opening were the Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change Didier Dogley; the official representative from Jica office in Kenya Hiroshi Itoyama, senior officials, officers and representatives of the sectors concerned.
Greeting the delegates, Mr Itoyama said during the workshop delegates will see how they can deal with the various challenges faced in the renewable energy sector.
In his opening address Minister Dogley said Seychelles heavily depends on imported fossil fuel for its primary energy supply and that this is not sustainable especially due to the continuous rapid growth of our economy and volatile nature of the price of fuel on the world market. Therefore energy security is extremely vital.
And as climate change is real with sea level rise, flooding, coastal erosion affecting the islands, Minister Dogley said our existence as independent nations are at risk and we should therefore kick out our addiction to fossil fuel.
He urged all present for not only strengthening energy security but also for the provision of clean, affordable and sustainable energy to combat climate change.
“Energy access, energy security, adequate and reliable supply and affordability are extremely vital for sustainable growth,” said the minister.
He stressed on the urgent need for the country to prepare for the future, and unless we invest in developing and exploiting renewable energy sources today, we might face a situation where we become victims of severe energy shortages.
He also remarked it is for this reason and others that Seychelles is looking beyond its 15% renewable energy target by 2030 and is actively exploring the possibility of going 100% renewable energy.
“We are the first to admit that this challenge is great and the task ahead is daunting but this has strengthened our resolve to take up this challenge,” said the minister.
He also highlighted steps already taken in that direction like the setting up of the wind energy and solar photovoltaic system at Ile du Port, the planned installation of a 4MV farm in the lagoon of Providence and a 7MW PV plant on Romainville island; the solar PV Democratisation Project launched by President James Michel during the 2015 National Day celebrations which will enable those that cannot afford to invest in renewable energy to do so; launching of the Praslin school PV project which is part of a bigger renewable energy project by the ministry and the exploration of other potential renewable energy projects with partners.
“The Jica project undertaken by Okinawa Enetech will help us understand our limitations and will also help us in the development of renewable energy,” concluded Minister Dogley.