Illoulofin Solar Power Station, is a 50 megawatts (67,000 hp) solar power plant in Benin, whose first 25 MW was commissioned on 19 July 2022, and the next 25 MW is under construction and is expected to come online in 2025.[1]
The solar farm is under development by the Government of Benin, with funding from the European Union (EU), the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Beninese Electricity Company (SBEE). The power station will be built in phases, with the first phase of 25 megawatts capacity followed by the second phase of equal magnitude. The energy from this solar plant will be integrated into the Beninese national electricity grid, during the 25 years of the solar farm''s expected lifespan.[2]
The first phase of this power station, comprises 47,212 crystalline PV panels, each rated at 530 Watts, for a generation capacity of 25.02 megawatts. The energy generated here is evacuated via a 20kV medium-voltage transmission line measuring 2.5 kilometres (2 mi) in length, to a location where it enters the national electricity grid of Benin.[5]
In December 2021, the Beninese Minister of Energy announced that the design and size of the solar farm had been increased from the original 25MW to a new capacity of 50MW.[6]
The Beninese government selected the French engineering and construction conglomerate Eiffage to design, construct, operate, maintain the solar farm for the first three years of commercial operation, then transfer it to SBEE. Eiffage in turn, tasked two of its subsidiaries, Eiffage Énergie Systèmes and RMT to carry out the task. During the first three years of commercial operations, Eiffage engineers will train SBEE engineers and technicians on the solar farm operations and maintenance.[7]
The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor is a consortium comprising Eiffage Energy Systems and RMT, both of whom are subsidiaries of the Eiffage Group.[7] The first phase of the power station cost US$72 million. It is expected that with the doubling of capacity during the second phase, the cost will increase.[2][6]
During the first phase, the power station has benefitted from loans provided by the European Union and the French Development Agency. Construction of the first phase started during the second half of 2021 and was expected to conclude in April 2022.[2][5][8] Commercial commissioning of the first phase was achieved in July 2022.[1]
A new company aiming to deploy off-grid renewable energy solutions in the African country of Benin will carry out €8.5 million (US$8.8 million) of electrification projects within a year.
Les Soleils du Bénin has been launched by three partners: investment platform NEoT Offgrid Africa, GDS International, a subsidiary of French solar PV company Générale du Solaire and locally-headquartered solar company ARESS.
They will start by working on rural electrification projects in 12 localities, aiming to install 1.7MW of solar PV and 3MWh of battery storage within 12 months. The project will create minigrids that are autonomous, connected and environmentally-friendly, the companies claimed.
The project partners were awarded contracts through a competitive tender process hosted by the MCA-Benin II Offgrid Clean Energy Facility (OCEF). MCA-Benin II is an implementation office set up to administer funding for Benin electric power programmes designed to lift people out of poverty.
It was created after a 2015 agreement between the US foreign aid agency Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Benin government, with the US committing US$391 million and Benin US$30 million.
Aiming to support the development of at least 50MW of electricity projects, OCEF has awarded minigrid projects to other providers already, notably minigrid developer and owner ENGIE PowerCorner which plans to deploy 22 systems by 2023.
NEoT Offgrid Africa co-financed Les Soleils du Bénin''s €8.5 million project cost, with GDS International to act as developer. The solar-storage minigrids will be co-constructed by GDS and ARESS, with ARESS the operator once the systems are commissioned.
"This MCA-Benin II program, in collaboration with local authorities in Benin, provides a structured regulatory framework to promote investment from private players such as NEoT Offgrid Africa," NEoT Offgrid Africa director Idris Tayebi said.
"We hope that this initiative will give rise, in Benin and elsewhere in the region, to other electrification programmes using decentralised solar energy as an energy solution for isolated or landlocked regions."
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