Joule Africa Plans to Follow Cameroon Hydropower Project with 100 Megawatts of Solar Facilities

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Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Joule Africa (London, England), the company developing Cameroon's 607-megawatt (MW) Kpep hydropower project, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Cameroon's government to develop 100 MW of new solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities.

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"These solar PV facilities, which will ultimately sit alongside the Kpep hydroelectric project, represent an opportunity to deliver renewable generating capacity within a relatively short timeframe," said Mark Green, the president of Joule Africa. "The next few months will be devoted to site selection, after which we will conduct detailed feasibility studies, with the phased construction process due to begin during the first half of 2015."

Joule Africa and Bethel Industrievertretung, its local partner on the Kpep hydropower project, will work with the Cameroon government to identify five sites that are suitable to host the PV projects. The country's northern areas are favored, as they have higher solar irradiance levels.

Capital investment in the project is estimated at $200 million. It is expected to add 15% to the country's current generating capacity, as well as emphasize a commitment to renewable energy sources as a key component of the energy mix.

The new facilities will be built in phases, with the first to be commissioned as early as 2015, followed by full commercial operation in 2017.

For related information, see January 10, 2014, article - Cameroon Plans Country's Largest Solar Power Facility.

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