French renewable energy independent power producer, GreenYellow, has announced the completion of a 14MWp solar power plant in the island country of Mauritius. The company won the tender to develop the project from the state-owned utility company, Central Electricity Board (CEB) in 2021.
The solar energy facility is located in the town of Arsenal, in the north of the island country. The plant is one of the largest solar installations on the island, and will supply about 20 GWh of renewable energy into the Mauritian grid each year.
The electricity generated from the plant is expected to meet the demand of almost 4,500 Mauritian households every year.
The solar farm in Arsenal is GreenYellow’s second project on the island, following the completion of the 16MWp Solitude solar power plant in 2019. The project received 350 million rupees (around €7.2 million) in financing from Mauritius Commercial Bank Ltd (MCB).
“MCB is proud to support Mauritius’ energy transition by financing major green energy projects, such as the Arsenal solar farm. This collaboration with GreenYellow, a key player in the energy transition in the Indian Ocean, and the Central Electricity Board, underlines our commitment to helping the country achieve its energy diversification ambitions,” said Thierry Hebraud, CEO, MCB Ltd.
Catalysing Mauritius’ energy transition
The inauguration of the plant coincided with the launch of its new zone GreenYellow AUSTRAL which consolidated its Indian Ocean and South African subsidiaries. The company recently sold its interests in Burkina Faso and Madagascar markets.
“As part of the company’s geographical repositioning, the consolidation of the Indian Ocean and South African subsidiaries into the new “GreenYellow AUSTRAL” zone demonstrates GreenYellow’s commitment to the energy transition in regions where its platform of decarbonization offers generates the most significant impact,” said Otmane Hajji, President of GreenYellow during his inaugural speech.
The project’s inauguration ceremony was attended by Georges Pierre Lesjongard, the Mauritian Minister of Energy and Public Utilities. The minister celebrated the project’s launch saying it marks a highly encouraging step towards the country’s goal of achieving 60% renewable energy in its energy mix by 2030.
The solar energy facility will also contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions in Mauritius, avoiding the emission of more than 13,000 tons of CO2 per year.
