Djermaya Solar Power Station (DSPS) is a planned 60 MW (80,000 hp) solar power plant in Chad. The solar farm is under development and is owned by a consortium comprising (a) Aldwych International Limited, a subsidiary of Anergi Group (working on behalf of InfraCo Africa) and (b) Smart Energies. The power station will be developed in phases. Phase 1, with capacity of 32 megawatts will be developed first. Phase 2, with capacity of 28 megawatts will be developed after Phase 1.[1][2]
The power plant is located southwest of the town of Djermaya, approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi), north of N''Djamena, the capital and largest city in the country.[3] The project site measures about 100 hectares (250 acres),[2] in the vicinity of D''jermaya. The project site is uninhabited, prior to installation of the power station.[4]
There are three main objectives in the development of this solar farm. The first objective is to increase the grid supply of electricity in Chad. Secondly, Chad depends primarily on electricity derived from expensive fossil fuel-fired installations. DSPS diversifies generation to include green renewable energy. Thirdly, the project involves the improvement of the transmission network, by strengthening the transmission between N''Djamena and D''jermaya.[4]
The development involves construction of a 32 megawatts solar farm. It also includes the construction of a new 18 kilometres (11 mi) 33kV transmission line from the power station to the electricity substation at Lamadji, in northern N''Djamena. Two new transformers, each rated at 33/90kV, will be installed at the substation at Lamadji. Later, the solar farm will be expanded to capacity of 60 megawatts, by the addition of 28 megawatts in new capacity.[1][2][4]
This power station is owned by a consortium whose members are illustrated in the table below. The members of the consortium are expected to form a special purpose vehicle company, which for descriptive purposes, we will call D''jermaya Solar Company, which will operate and manage the power station.[1][2]
In July 2020, armed with a 25-year power purchase agreement, the owners of D''jermaya Solar Company advertised for qualified contractors to bid for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract, for the first phase (32 MW).[2]
In May 2023, the owner/developer consortium selected Elsewedy Electric of Egypt as the EPC contractor. The capacity of the first stage was increased to 36 megawatts and the design was changed to include an 8 MWh electricity storage system. Work also involves the construction of two 25 MVA (90 kV) power transformers and a 33 kV overhead transmission line to the substation at Lamadji, near Ndjamena.[5]
The project has received partial funding from the African Development Bank, the European Union–Africa Infrastructure Fund, the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund and Proparco.[2][5][6] Total cost has been budgeted at €60.3 million (approx. US$70.9 million).[7]
According to the World Bank, only 11 % of the Chadian population has access to electricity, with a significant gap between rural areas (1%) and urban areas (20%). Chad has one of the lowest rates of access to electricity in the world. Paradoxical situation regarding the natural resources available to the country, especially oil and renewable energies.
Indeed, Chad enjoys an exceptional sunshine rate of 2,000 to 2,600 hours per year. Some regions also offer very interesting wind speeds. Despite these resources, electricity remains very scarce in Chad, making it one of the most expensive in the world.
Today, apart from the 1 MW wind power plant (composed of 4 wind turbines) in Amdjarass, a town in the east of the country, electricity is only supplied by generators, which regularly break down. Oil, which is used to run these generators, is expensive and highly polluting energy. This situation hampers the socio-economic development of the country and affects the quality of life of the population.
In this context, the use of renewable energy is the ideal solution. The other advantage would be the preservation of the environment, important in a semi-desert country like Chad.
InnoVent has therefore decided to develop the country''s first solar power plant, by implanting it in Abéché, the second largest city in Chad with 80,000 inhabitants, but which is not connected to the national electricity grid.
The project''s beginnings date back to the end of 2015. However, the development and construction of Abéché solar farm took several years due to various constraints. At the administrative level first of all: exemptions related to materials/components and the tax advantages provided for by the texts in force were not granted until early 2020. And in terms of transport and international logistics: Chad has no direct access to a port, roads are mostly degraded and it takes 10 to 13 hours of road to reach N’Djaména airport and the city of Abéché. Finally, air connections between Abéché and N’Djamena are very random.
We received the equipment for the future solar power plant in summer 2020. In autumn/winter 2020, we prepared the foundations, then the construction of the 1st MW took place until November 2021. On December 6, 2021, we injected for the first time by clamping the power plant to 100 kW to avoid any return of power on the SNE’s grid.
The solar farm is currently made up of 360 bi-face panels of 365 WC of unit power, 3,240 polycrystalline panels of 335 WC of unit power, 40 trackers, 10 inverters of 100 kW each and a delivery station (PDL) of 1,250 kVA. Between the substation and the SNE source station, 8 km of connection were made in trenches to meet local constraints.
Eventually, as we explaind in this article, the power plant will cover the needs of the city of Abéché (about 80,000 inhabitants).
Cette phase pilote de 1 MW nous permet de valider plusieurs étapes :
This is Anupam Gupta from Olam, Joint venture partners in Cotontchad.Your solar project in Tchad is commendable.Do you have any plans for Moundou.
59650 Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
N''Djamena, Chad: Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed with the Government of Chad for the 60MWp Djermaya Solar project.
The Djermaya Solar project, represented by InfraCo Africa its majority shareholder, today signed a 25-year PPA with the Ministry of Energy and the national utility, La Société Nationale d''Electricité (SNE). The PPA marks a key milestone in the development of Djermaya Solar, enabling the project to raise construction financing and demonstrating the joint commitment of all parties to developing renewable energy in Chad.
Chad relies upon expensive heavy fuel oil and diesel for electricity, making the country vulnerable to supply failures and global price fluctuations. Djermaya Solar is one of the first solar IPP projects in Chad. This pioneering project will be delivered in two phases of 32MWp and 28MWp, gradually integrating renewable power into Chad''s national grid. Development of the project is being led on the ground by Aldwych Africa Development Limited (AADL, on behalf of InfraCo Africa) and Smart Energies.
Hugues Antoine Guinoiseau, Director of Smart Energies International, said:
''This PPA marks the beginning of a long collaboration between a consortium led by Smart Energies and InfraCo Africa, the SNE and the Chadian government. The energy needs are very important in Chad – needs mostly satisfied today by polluting energies. In a country with strong sunlight like Chad, solar energy appears as a great means to expand access to a clean energy. We are happy to contribute to its deployment in Chad. This project also validates Smart Energies’ internationalisation strategy, which has already developed strategic positions in several frontier markets and developing countries, on the African continent, in the Middle East and in Eastern Europe.''
InfraCo Africa, part of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), has committed US$3m to the development of Djermaya Solar and leveraged US$0.8m in grants from its sister PIDG company, the Technical Assistance Facility (TAF). Amongst other activities, the TAF grant has funded legal advice for the Government of Chad (GoC) to support preparation and negotiation of project documents such as the PPA. Djermaya Solar has also secured a €6.35m commitment from the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund (EU-AITF) to build a transmission line and substation to connect Djermaya Solar to the grid.
Speaking at the signing, InfraCo Africa''s Head of West Africa Business Development, Kodjo Afidegnon said:
''We are excited to be working with our partners at the forefront of renewable energy in Chad. InfraCo Africa is uniquely able to fund high-risk projects in the earliest stages of their development so that they can complete activities, such as negotiating bankable PPAs, which are necessary to mobilise private sector investment. Working with our sister PIDG companies, Djermaya Solar demonstrates our commitment to investing into challenging markets, both here and across West Africa.''
The project draws on the expertise of a range of government ministries, SNE, Agence des Energies Renouvelables au Tchad (ADER – Tchad) as well as the project company. Together they have worked to build awareness of the project and negotiate the necessary legal and regulatory frameworks to make it a success. With the Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) expected to be concluded imminently, and the African Development Bank confirmed as mandated lead arranger for the project, the first 32MWp phase of the project is on track to start delivering power in 2020.
The Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Michel Boukar, explained during the signing:
''The Djermaya Solar project is important to us because it will help to increase electricity access in our country but also reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, both being strategic goals for the Government of Chad''
PPA signing signals progress t... »
The Djermaya Solar project will develop 60MW of solar PV in two phases, gradually integrating renewable power into Chad''s national grid. By establishing a cross-sector Task-Force, this project is drawing on both public and private sector expertise to rapidly develop a solution that is bankable and aligned with the Government of Chad''s aspirations.
The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the 1st phase of the D''jermaya solar power plant in Chad has been awarded.
The contract was awarded to Elsewedy Electric T&D, the subsidiary of the Egyptian company Elsewedy Electric. D’jermaya CDEN Energy (DCE) the project’s developer awarded the contract. The Cairo-based company was chosen in a tender launched back in 2020.
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