Will Niger build a 50 MW solar power station?

Niger had an installed PV capacity of 27 MW at the end of 2020. Niger ‘s Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Renewable Energy has launched a tender for the construction of a 50 MW solar power station at Gorou Banda near Niamey, the country’s capital. Interested developers will have time until November 22 to submit their bids.

Are there any off-grid solar energy systems in Niger?

There is considerable experience of off-grid PV electrification, water pumping and solar water heating systems in Niger. Each of these will be explored below. The main decentralised renewable energy system being promoted in Niger for rural electricity is solar PV.

Will Niger have a solar power plant?

The solar plant is expected to have a capacity of up to 50 MW and to be located at the 100 MW Gorou Banda thermal power station commissioned in 2017. Niger had an installed PV capacity of 27 MW at the end of 2020.

Will a 20 MW grid-connected solar PV system perform in Niger?

A financial analysis has been made as part of the pre-feasibility study of a 20 MW grid-connected solar PV system near Niamey under negotiation at pres-ent. It provides a concrete example of how grid-based systems are likely to perform under the resource and macroeconomic conditions prevalent in Niger.

Why is Niger a solar energy hub?

Niger was one of the first countries across the world to consider renewable energy technologies as a solution to its energy needs. This dates back to the 1960s, when Niger set up the Solar Energy Office (Office de l’Energie Solaire – ONERSOL), later renamed the National Solar Energy Centre (Centre National d'Énergie Solaire – CNES).

Why are investors interested in PV Grid connection in Niger?

There is growing investment interest in PV grid connection as the falling cost of PV in recent years brings the technology closer to grid parity in many parts of the world. Niger’s high electricity generation cost is likely to provoke investor inter-est in introducing PV to the grid.