The company was chosen by Total Eren SA and African Energy Management Platform to build a 15MWp solar PV plant to generate and deliver energy to Iamgold Essakane SA at its gold mine in northeastern Burkina Faso.
By hybridizing an existing 57 MW diesel power plant with the new solar PV plant and related hybrid plant controls, the plant's performance has been significantly enhanced. It is estimated that the new solar hybrid plant will reduce fuel consumption by some 6 million litres per year, while reducing the plant's annual CO2 emissions, potentially by as much as 18,500 tons. The company states this project has generated over 200 jobs during the construction phase and is expected to create 75 permanent jobs during the operation phase.
"This project demonstrates the benefits of integrating renewable energy in the mining industry. We are looking to replicate this type of hybridization,
especially in Africa where mines cannot always rely on the national grid," explains Fabienne Demol, Executive Vice-President - Global Head of Business Development, at Total Eren.
Javier Cavada, President, Wärtsilä Energy Solutions, noted, "Our new hybrid energy solutions will allow our customers to seamlessly integrate more renewable energy into their grids.”
The inauguration of the power plant, located approximately 350 kilometres northeast of Burkina Faso's capital city, Ouagadougou, took place on March 16th and was attended by representatives from Iamgold and Wärtsilä, as well as the President of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.
Wärtsilä has been contracted to operate and maintain the plant under an Operations & Maintenance agreement.
Image caption: The inauguration of the world's largest Solar Hybrid power plant was attended by representatives from Iamgold and Wärtsilä, as well as the President of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.
