The grant was approved by SEFA at the end of December and will help Sotravic Ltd to develop SWAC, a system that will help to lower building cooling costs using cold ocean water. It will contribute to annual reduction of 40,000 tons of CO2 emissions, create 40 direct green jobs for skilled local engineers and technicians, and potentially create many more indirect jobs in downstream businesses such as aquaculture, pharmaceutical and bottling specialty water. It is also the first such project in Africa and will help to demonstrate the technology for other coastal cities on the continent.
“This innovative project, led by a local engineering and construction company, will explore synergies between the ocean and the energy sector in Mauritius to deliver significant cost, energy and carbon savings while also creating jobs and new business opportunities” said Alex Rugamba, Director of the AfDB’s Energy, Environment and Climate Change Department. “This is perfectly aligned with the Bank’s new strategy focused on supporting African countries in their transition to more green and inclusive growth models.”
The SWAC system is part of a Deep Ocean Water Application (DOWA) project consisting of a ground-breaking system that pumps cold water from the Indian Ocean and uses it for air conditioning purposes in Port Louis and other nearby locations. When complete, the system will replace conventional air-conditioning systems in buildings currently consuming the equivalent of 30 MW of electricity with a cold ocean-water cooling system that requires only 4 MW of electrical power to operate. In turn this will free 26MW of electricity for other purposes.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) will play a key role throughout the project’s development phase by engaging with key partners to structure a bankable project for long-term financing. SEFA will finance the offshore feasibility studies which will include marine surveys, preliminary designs and a preliminary assessment of the project’s environmental and social impacts.
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