The national electric utility of Senegal, Senelec, has signed a 20-year capacity change agreement (CCA) with developer Infinity Power for a 40MW/160MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) project.
The four-hour BESS project, which will have a power rating of 40MW and an energy storage capacity of 160MWh, will be built at the Tobène substation in Thies and operated in tandem with Infinity Power’s 158.7MW wind farm, the Parc Eolien Taiba N’Diaye (PETN).
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Infinity Power is a joint venture between Egyptian developer Infinity and UAE-based investment firm Masdar. Masdar also owns UK developer Masdar Arlington Energy.
Construction on the BESS will start in early 2024 and is expected to be completed and operational in 2025, and will be among the largest such projects in West Africa. It will provide ancillary services like frequency regulation, reactive power and energy charging and discharging. A CCA is similar to a power purchase agreement (PPA).
Senelec estimates that the BESS will save the grid an estimated US$165 million over its operating life, including by reducing reliance on thermal power plants.
Papa Mademba Biteye, general manager at Senelec said: “Senegal is constantly eyeing opportunities to push ahead its renewable energy agenda by embarking on solutions that speeds up its transition to a low-carbon economy.”
“The capacity charge agreement project with Infinity Power plays a pivotal role across both operational and financial levels through a long-term guaranteed performance to provide increased grid stability, integrate renewable energy into Senelec’s electricity grid and empower Senegal in becoming an independent power producer.”
Senegal has been something of a hotspot for energy storage activity in the West Africa region recently.
Last month, Energy-Storage.news reported on the West African Development Bank (BOAD) approving a US$24 million loan for a solar and storage project with 45MWh BESS while in July a co-located project with a 20MWh BESS claimed to be the first dedicated to frequency regulation in the region was financed.
