MAECI Solar, a subsidiary of Management and Economic Consulting, Inc., has been chosen by the government of Equatorial Guinea to install a 5MW PV project on Annobon Province, an island off the coast of the African nation.
MAECI Solar will collaborate with GE Power & Water and Princeton Power Systems during the installation.
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The project is expected to meet 100% of the island’s current energy demand and will be the largest self-sufficent solar project on the continent of Africa upon completion, it is claimed.
Chris Massaro, senior vice president of MAECI, said:”MAECI is fortunate to have witnessed firsthand the development of Equatorial Guinea over the past few years. We are extremely excited to bring this solar microgrid solution to Annobon Island as well as support President Obiang Nguema's vision to raise the quality of life for the people and bring economic diversification to Equatorial Guinea. This project brings both.
“The Annobon Electrification Project will be the platform for economic growth on the island by bringing a much needed power supply that will enable the development of multiple industries, add 700 to 1,000 direct and indirect jobs to Annobon Island and significantly raise the standard of living.”
Currently, the 5,000 residents of Annobon Province only have around five hours of reliable electricity per day. Once completed, the PV project will give residents electricity for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The installation is part of Equatorial Guinea’s National Economic Development Plan Horizon 2020, which plans on making the African nation an “emerging economy by 2020.
Ken McCauley, president and CEO of Princeton Power Systems, said: “Today, over 1 billion people are without power. We are taking our experience in microgrids from Alcatraz Island, the U.S. Department of Defense and private sector customers to now apply it to improving quality of life for people in rural areas where grid power does not exist or is not reliable. We look forward to future global projects across the world to provide power to these areas to have hospitals, lighting and other basic human needs.”