Comoros Commissions 20 MW Solar PV Project with 16 MWh Energy Storage System

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 6, Comoros President Azali Assoumani attended the inauguration ceremony of three solar photovoltaic power plants. The projects have a total installed capacity of approximately 20 MW, located on Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Mohéli islands respectively, and are equipped with battery energy storage systems and medium-voltage transmission lines. The projects are financed by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development with approximately 84.4 million dirhams, implemented by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company Masdar, with Global South Utilities responsible for project management.

Among the three solar PV plants, the Grande Comore project has an installed capacity of 12.86 MW, the Anjouan project 4.05 MW, and the Mohéli project 3.1 MW. The projects also include two battery energy storage facilities configured on Grande Comore and Anjouan, with a combined power output of 8 MW and a total storage capacity of 16 MWh.

The associated grid infrastructure includes approximately 30 km of 20 kV medium-voltage overhead transmission lines, used to connect the newly added solar PV and energy storage facilities to the local power system. The three solar PV plants, two energy storage systems, and transmission facilities have now entered the operational phase simultaneously.

Technical estimates disclosed by Masdar indicate that the three plants are expected to generate approximately 33.75 GWh of electricity annually, corresponding to the annual electricity demand of about 17,500 households. Based on Comoros' 2024 electricity consumption data, the project's expected annual generation is equivalent to approximately 13.3% of the country's 254 GWh electricity demand that year, and 22.5% of the actual 150 GWh of electricity generated.

Imported diesel accounted for approximately 91% of Comoros' energy supply in 2024, and the country recorded approximately 3,000 power outages that year. The newly added solar PV, energy storage, and transmission facilities have all been completed and are now in operation.