Guinea’s Ministry of Energy and Belgium-headquartered clean energy non-profit RELP have signed an agreement to cooperate on a competitive procurement program for solar PV and battery energy storage projects.
Under the terms of the agreement, the two parties will work on the design, sizing and structuring of the program, with RELP tasked with providing technical, legal, regulatory and financial advisory support to the Ministry, working alongside the country’s National Directorate for Renewable Energy as technical counterpart.
The procurement program is expected to kick off with a first indicative phase covering 400 MW.
A statement published by RELP says its support will include the drafting of full tender documentation, helping with capacity building and supporting the ministry in the adoption of risk mitigation and credit enhancement instruments
“Clean, reliable, affordable electricity is the foundation of Guinea’s ambitions. But how it is procured matters just as much: transparent rules and a credible plan are what turn a single programme into a lasting market,” commented Aminata Bocar Ba, RELP’s Africa Engagement Manager. “That is the partnership we want to build.”
The Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) has identified 329.7 MW of operational solar in Guinea to date, according to figures in its online project database, the majority of which is unidentified C&I projects.
RELP is also working with West African nations Ghana, Togo and Senegal on similar government-led renewable energy procurements, according to a social media post from the company.
Its agreement with Ghana, entered into last month, includes designing and implementing a multi-year competitive procurement program for renewable energy and battery energy storage, including the country’s first public renewables auction.
The post Guinea plans solar, storage procurement program appeared first on pv magazine Global.
