Changing lives, the Microsol’s challenge, an energy solution that will be installed in West Africa
In the run-up to COP22, the UEMOA Commission, ABREC and Schneider Electric demonstrates simple, practical solutions to solve the energy paradox, of which 100,000 people should benefit.
On November 7, the Marrakech Climate Change Conference (COP22) will open with a firm desire to turn the progress achieved in the Paris Agreement into concrete action. The presidency of COP22 stated that it would be “an opportunity to carry the voices of the most countries most vulnerable to climate change, particularly African and island states” and “to make a strong commitment in green economy sectors to benefit from the related opportunities in terms of growth and employment.”
A few weeks ahead of this world event, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), which made food security a priority, with Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management, and the African Biofuel and Renewable Energy Company (ABREC), the African renewable hub, decided to experiment a “multi-energy” plant for irrigation, fish farming and farming transformation. Developed by Schneider Electric, this solution is called Microsol.
In this framework, ABREC, UEMOA’s delegated project manager, signed a contract with Schneider Electric to implement the Microsol rural electrification solution in the eight member states of UEMOA¹. With Microsol, the three partners want to progressively offer to ~100,000 people access to the required electricity for irrigation, lighting, fish farming, farming transformation and the provision of drinking water without CO2 emissions.
An innovative technology to develop a virtuous ecosystem
Gilles Vermot Desroches, Senior Vice President, Sustainability and BOP at Schneider Electric commented: “At Schneider Electric, we want everyone on our planet to have access to safe, reliable, efficient and sustainable energy, and we are committed to developing the innovations that will make this happen. We are very pleased to have signed this convention since Microsol meets the vital needs of underprivileged populations while helping to develop virtuous ecosystems locally that generate value and well-being. To us, Microsol is a forerunner of the many innovative solutions that will be implemented in Africa and worldwide.”
“One of ABREC missions is to assist African states to better exploit their renewable energy potential. The UEMOA delegated project manager for the implementation of this important project, ABREC, welcomes the signing of this agreement on the commissioning of ‘Microsol’ which will go a long way to ensure food safety, improve people’s living conditions and thus contribute to the development at grassroots within UEMOA region”, said the CEO of ABREC, Mr. Thierno Bocar TALL.
Microsol is an innovative solution enabling energy to be captured through a thermal or photovoltaic power plant and to be reused to produce electricity and heat simultaneously. It can supply micro-industries in rural areas, especially food production, processing and storage plants. This “multi-energy” plant can also store energy as batteries with a 10-year lifespan.
The project will be implemented over a two-year period, involving feasibility studies, equipment installation and user training.
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¹ Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
About ABREC
The African Biofuel and Renewable Energy Compagny (ABREC) is an international institution headquarted in Lome. Fifteen shareholding states (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo) and 6 financial institutions (EBID, BOAD, ECOBANK, FAGACE, IEI and NEXIM BANK) invest in its capital. The objectives it seeks to achieve are (i) promotion and financing of renewable energies and energy efficiency in the public and private sectors, (ii) transfer of new green technologies for the development of renewable energy industries, (iii) capacity building and advice for governments and private sector to ensure that they draw the highest benefit from clean energy markets.
www.saber-abrec.org
About Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is the global specialist in energy management and automation. With revenues of ~€27 billion in FY2015, our 160,000+ employees serve customers in over 100 countries, helping them to manage their energy and process in ways that are safe, reliable, efficient and sustainable. From the simplest of switches to complex operational systems, our technology, software and services improve the way our customers manage and automate their operations. Our connected technologies reshape industries, transform cities and enrich lives. At Schneider Electric, we call this Life Is On.
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