| Work Detail |
PowerChina is building three hybrid solar microgrids in Suriname, combining solar panels, energy storage and diesel backup to power 25 remote villages in the country.
Construction of three hybrid solar power plants to supply 25 villages in Suriname is underway. In December, work began on a solar system in Daume to supply electricity to 16 villages, another in Cajana for seven villages and a third in Galibi for two villages.
The three sites are located in the Surinamese district of Sipaliwini in the centre of the country and in the district of Marowijne on the north-eastern coast.
The construction is part of Phase II of the Suriname Village Solar Microgrid Project, which is being implemented by PowerChina.
Each plant combines solar panels with battery storage and a backup diesel generator. The plants will supply 360 kWh per cluster, or enough to power all the homes in each village.
PowerChina began the first phase of the project in 2019, which includes the design, procurement and construction of 650 kW of solar power and 2.6 MWh of energy storage. The company delivered the first site of the second phase in April. According to the Government of Suriname, PowerChina is responsible for supplying solar power to 20% of the countrys villages.
Although Suriname’s national electricity access rate is over 98%, it drops below 90% in rural areas. Minister David Abiamofo of the Ministry of Natural Resources said the country must achieve universal access to electricity by 2030.
By the end of 2023, Suriname had deployed 12 MW of solar capacity, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). |
