Two developers operating in the renewable energy sector have submitted their Environment Impact Assessment report for the construction of two solar projects in the northern region of the country. The goal is to increase sustainable energy production in Mauritius.
Arsenal Solar Project:
A photovoltaic solar farm with a capacity of 16,668 MWp will be built in the Arsenal region, specifically on two plots of land owned by Massilia Ltd.
This project by Stor’sun 3 Ltd aligns with the government’s strategy to increase the share of renewable energy in the national energy mix to 60% by 2030.
In this context, the Central Electricity Board (CEB) sent a letter of intent to the developer on September 9, 2022. The developer will be able to export the electricity produced by the solar panels to the CEB grid.
The commissioning of the photovoltaic solar farm is scheduled for August 8, 2024. The proposed solar farm is expected to receive an average of about 6.5 hours of sunlight per day, which is approximately 2,160 hours of sunlight per year.
As for environmental impacts, the project has undergone studies to determine the main negative impacts during the construction, installation, and operation phases. Specific measures have been identified to mitigate the main negative impacts.
A solid waste management plan has been proposed to prevent the surrounding ecosystem from being affected. Proper disposal and recycling of used batteries have been considered for this project.
Drainage systems will be put in place on the site to ensure that the area is not affected during heavy rainfall.
Low plants and vegetation will be planted between the rows of photovoltaic panels. Overall, the proposed project offers numerous environmental benefits.
Plaine-des-Papayes Solar Farm:
SPV 10 MW Belle Vue 1 Ltd intends to establish a photovoltaic solar farm with a battery energy storage system with a capacity of 10 MW in Bon-Air, Plaines-des-Papayes.
“This project also aligns with the government’s strategy on renewable energies. The Central Electricity Board sent a letter of intent to SPV 10 MW Belle Vue 1 Ltd on September 14, 2022, to produce and export the electricity generated by the photovoltaic solar panels to the CEB grid. The expected commissioning of the photovoltaic solar farm is set for February 2025.”
The photovoltaic farm will consist of approximately 28,000 solar panels with dimensions of 2,333 mm x 1,134 mm x 30 mm, with a power of 590 W, and 50 string inverters that will be installed on a site of about 22 hectares.
The photovoltaic farm will be connected to the CEB’s Belle-Vue substation via overhead and underground 22 kV transmission cables.
The project also includes 9,000 kVA transformers, a control room, and a monitoring room. The monitoring room will house the SCADA and monitoring system.
This photovoltaic farm includes a battery energy storage system to store and release energy as needed.
Photovoltaic Potential:
The Plaines-des-Papayes region has an average daily photovoltaic potential of approximately 4.9 kWh/kWp.
The solar farm is expected to receive an average of eight hours of sunlight per day, which amounts to about 2,849 hours of sunlight per year.
Storage System:
The Plaines-des-Papayes photovoltaic solar farm will house a battery energy storage system. The installation will release energy to the grid when necessary.
This battery-powered system is used to balance the grid, provide backup power, and improve grid stability.
The battery energy storage system offers flexibility in the efficient operation of the electrical grid by separating energy supply and demand.
Stor’sun 3 Ltd, the developer of this project, was established on September 21, 2022. Qair International is the parent company of Stor’sun 3 Ltd.
Source: Defi Media
