Soma Solar Power Station
| Soma Solar Power Station | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | Gambia |
| Location | Soma, Jarra West, Lower River Division |
| Coordinates | 13°26′13″N 15°31′05″W / 13.43694°N 15.51806°W |
| Status | Proposed |
| Construction began | 2023 Expected |
| Construction cost | US$130+ million |
| Owner(s) | "Soma Solar Consortium" |
| Solar farm | |
| Type | Flat-panel PV |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity | 150 MW |
The Soma Solar Power Station is a planned 150 megawatts solar power plant in Gambia. The two lead developers of this renewable energy infrastructure are the Government of Gambia and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The World Bank and the European Investment Bank, have jointly committed US$164 million in loans towards this development.[1][2]
Location[edit]
The power station is planned to sit on 225 hectares (556 acres) of land in the town of Soma, in Jarra West District, in the Lower River Division of Gambia.[1] Soma, Gambia is located south of the River Gambia, approximately 182 kilometres (113 mi), east of the capital city of Banjul.[3] By design, this solar farm is within the vicinity of the 225kV/30kV substation, under construction in Soma, by the Organisation pour la mise en valeur du fleuve Gambie (OMVG) (English:Gambia River Development Organization), whose membership comprises (a) Gambia (b) Guinea (c) Guinea Bissau and (d) Senegal.[4]
Overview[edit]
As of January 2019, Gambia had total installed generating capacity of approximately 139 megawatts. Of this, the Gambia National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), generated 102 megawatts and an independent power producer generated approximately 26 megawatts, at Brikama, an urban centre, south of Banjul. All these installations use "expensive fossil-fuels" (either natural gas or heavy fuel oil).[4][5] In addition, as of November 2021, there was a deficit of 11 megawatts in the Gambian grid during peak hours[4]
To mitigate these challenges, the concerned parties designed two inter-related strategies:
Strategy 1[edit]
OMVG to build a 225kV transmission line to evacuate power from the 450 MW Sambangalou Hydroelectric Power Station, the 240 MW Kaleta Hydroelectric Power Station and the 530 MW Souapiti Hydroelectric Power Station and transmit this power to the major urban centres in the four countries where it is needed most.[4]
A total of 15 substations will be built in the region, stepping down power from 225kV to 30kV for eventual distribution to homes, businesses and industry. One of those substations is under development in the town of Soma, Gambia.[6][7]
Strategy 2[edit]
The Gambia will build a 150 MW solar farm near the planned 250kV/30kV substation in Soma, to either upload power to stabilize the Gambian grid or for injection into the West African Power Pool or both, depending on conditions. The phased development of the solar farm will see the first 80 megawatts developed first, followed by the second phase of 70 megawatts developed about four years later. The design incorporates a battery energy storage system (BESS), in the 100MWh to 150MWh range.[4]
Developments[edit]
The tender for a consultant or consortium of consultants went out in August 2021. The consultant(s) will carry out a feasibility study. The study will guide as to the selection of an independent power producer (IPP), who will sign power purchase agreements (PPAs) with NAWEC and WAPP.[1][5][8] It is anticipated that once an IPP is selected and the PPAs signed, construction will take no more than 2 years at most.[4]
In October 2022, a meeting was convened in Banjul, Gambia's capital city, in which representatives of the member countries of ECOWAS validated the feasibility study for the construction of the 150 MW Soma Solar Power Station, in Soma, Gambia. The meeting was also attended by the officials from the national electricity companies of the member countries of the Gambia River Development Organization (OMVG), the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) and the World Bank.[9]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Dominic Mandela (15 August 2021). "Gambia launches tender for 150 MW solar project". Construction Review Online. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Africa Energy Portal (2 October 2019). "Gambia plans 150 MW solar project with 20 MWh storage option". Africa Energy Portal Organization. Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Google (26 February 2022). "Road Distance Between Banjul, Gambia And Soma, Gambia With Map" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Jean Gecit (22 November 2021). "In Soma, Gambia takes its place in West African geopolitics". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ a b West African Power Pool (September 2019). "West African Power Pool: Regional Solar Park Project In Gambia: Terms Of Reference Feasibility Study" (PDF). West African Power Pool. Cotonou, Republic of Benin. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Gauff Engineering (11 March 2019). "Official inauguration of construction site of OMVG substation in The Gambia". Gauff.net. Nuremberg, Germany. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ AfDB (30 September 2015). "Multinational - The Gambia River Basin Development Organization Energy Project (OMVG) - The Gambia". African Development Bank. Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Jean Marie Takouleu (4 October 2019). "Gambia: Government seeking a consultant for a 150 MW solar project". Paris, France. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ Jean Marie Takouleu (26 October 2022). "ECOWAS: towards the construction of a 150 MWp solar park connected to the WAPP". Afrik21.africa. Paris, Prance. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
External links[edit]
- Gambia: WB Rep Explains How Omvg Represents Transformational Impact On Gambia's Energy As of 25 October 2021.