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Santo Antão – 17/January/2019 – The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), inaugurated a solar PV mini-grid in Planalto Norte with the capacity of 45 kWp, budgeted in the amount of 300 thousand USD to benefit 50 families in the region.
Once more ECREEE has demonstrated its strong commitment towards the region by merging efforts with partners such as the Municipality of Porto Novo, ADMP and the Camões Institute of Portugal in order to take steps to boost renewable energy penetration and improve livelihood conditions of isolated off-grid communities, through sustainable energy access.
In the last years, ECREEE has engaged in a relentless effort, reaching out to development partners to provide electricity access to communities not connected to the grid, ensuring that people living in those areas also have equal access to opportunities. Such initiatives aim at promoting development while promoting socio-economic prospects, for people living in such regions.
The Planalto Norte project is such a paradigmatic example. This is a project to benefit 50 families, which translate in much more than providing lighting. It will allow productive use of electricity and at the same time, launching a cycle of sustainability. Through this project that aforementioned community will have access to electricity 24h a day.
In its opening remarks, the Executive Director of ECREEE, Mr. Mahama Kappiah, stressed on the effort in which ECREEE is involved across the region to develop sustainable energy project such as the one in question, congratulating its partners for the continuous support. To the inauguration ceremony, important entities were present, such as the President of the Municipality of Porto Novo, the Ambassador of Portugal to Cabo Verde, as well as the Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal.
ECREEE was also a key partner to develop other crucial project in Santo Antão such two PV systems to benefit the communities of Figueiras and Ribeira Alta with a total capacity generation of about 60 kWp, benefiting about 110 families. Another interesting project in the island is Monte Trigo, where a plant was installed, producing enough energy at any given time of the year for a rated aggregate demand estimated at 90 kWh.
Through the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Facility (EREF), ECREEE has supported the development of around 50 projects in countries such as Niger, Sierra Leone Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Benin.