Challenge
Local Agency for Rural Electrification (ADER) were looking for IPP’s to install and exploit electricity production and distribution for remote rural areas in Madagascar. Due to our previous experience with installations for GSM providers and local utilities in the country, we took the challenge to perform this as a new established IPP (Eosol SARL).
Approach
We analysed several areas and villages and selected two villages on the Western coast of Madagascar: Andavadoaka and Befandefa. The local economy consisted of fisheries, small scale lodges for tourists and a local hospital. After introduction and discussions with the local community about tariffs and crucial consumers, the system lay-out was set-up. Solar generation combined with low voltage battery storage and a frequency controlled smart grid network with a pre-paid metering system was used. Based on the frequency in the grid specific users can be turned on during high frequency (energy excess) and turned off during low frequency (energy shortage), to assure that crucial consumers have energy when needed.
Solution
Implementation of the systems took about a year, where local people were recruited and trained for installation and operation of the system. Providing lighting for the people increased the possibility to read in the houses and contributed to safety during the night. This also reduced the use of relatively expensive and unhealthy kerosene lights. Excess of energy during the day is now being used for cooling fish and producing ice for fish conservation, making the local people less dependent on traders. The hospital has a regional function and now makes use of reliable and renewable energy provided by the smart grid. Creating positive local impact by decentral energy generation and distribution!