Global South Utilities (GSU), UAE has signed two agreements with Madagascar’s government. These new agreements focus on building more renewable energy in Madagascar.
The first deal is with the Ministry of Energy and Hydrocarbons. GSU plans to build a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Moramanga. This solar power plant will have a capacity of 50 megawatts (MW). It will also have a battery energy storage system. The battery system will store up to 25 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy.
The plan is to connect this new solar plant to the Antananarivo Interconnected Network. Madagascar’s national utility, JIRAMA, will buy the power. GSU expects the project to finish in about one year. This new plant will help reduce how much Madagascar uses fossil fuels to make electricity.
The second agreement is about future projects. GSU and the Ministry want to study more sites for renewable energy. Together, they will look for places to build up to 250 MW of total installed capacity. A detailed study will check the technical, environmental, and economic sides of these future projects.
The signing took place at the Iavoloha State Palace. Andry Rajoelina, Madagascar’s President, watched the signing. Olivier Jean-Baptiste, Minister of Energy and Hydrocarbons, and Ali Alshimmari, CEO of GSU, signed the papers.
In the UAE, GSU is also looking at other small renewable projects. One plan is to add small solar systems at off-grid farms in rural areas. These solar systems can supply around 1 to 5 MW each. They help farms run water pumps and storage without using diesel.
In addition, GSU is studying ways to use batteries in remote parts of the UAE where small diesel generators run at night. Adding a battery system can help these sites switch to solar power during the day and use stored power later.
