With this new project, Voltalia is strengthening its Toco complex, the largest battery storage complex in France with a capacity of 25.6 MWh.
Voltalia helps improve Guiana’s power grid
“We are delighted to be pursuing our development in the region where Voltalia was born in 2005: French Guiana. This new project illustrates our ability to support Guyana’s energy transition. It also highlights our expertise in battery storage technology,” says Sébastien Clerc, CEO of Voltalia.
The project combines a 5 MW photovoltaic power plant with a 10.6 MWh lithium-ion battery storage unit. This combination will enable electricity generated during the day to be fed into the grid until nightfall. The future power plant will generate 7,430 MWh/year, equivalent to the electricity needs of around 3,000 Guyanese.
The project is eagerly awaited to improve the power system in a region where demand for electricity is growing rapidly. The new plant will also replace the existing diesel generators at Saint Laurent du Maroni.
Voltalia consolidates its presence in French Guiana
Sable Blanc is located near the ocean coast and the border with Suriname. The plant will be built in the commune of Mana, on land adjacent to the Mana Energie Services storage facility, which Voltalia will commission in December 2020.
This region enjoys a very high level of solar radiation. Commissioning is scheduled for late 2022, with a guaranteed sales tariff for 20 years. The Toco complex, of which the Sable Blan project is a part, will thus grow to 19.3 MW. With a storage capacity of 25.6 MWh.
The French renewable energy giant currently operates solar, hydro, biomass and storage power plants in French Guiana with a combined capacity of 31 MW. In this way, the company’s facilities cover almost 10% of the consumption of the main electricity grid.
