Wind Energy

Solamon Enters Mauritius Market; Set to Provide Large-Scale Solar Energy Projects

Earlier today Jay Yeo, President, Solamon Energy Corp., proudly announced the company has entered The Republic of Mauritius and over the next few months will aggressively pursue its goal to sell large-scale solar arrays across fields, parking lots and rooftops on this sun-rich island nation located in the Indian Ocean. "It is in fact our first foray into Africa," adds Yeo, from his office in Toronto, "and we are working closely with several partners to effectively communicate our intentions to business and government leaders."

Mauritius has no known oil, natural gas or coal reserves, and therefore currently depends on imported petroleum products to meet most of its energy requirements. Mauritius consumes around 350 MWh of electricity daily. The Ministry of Public Utilities is responsible for the design and implementation of energy policy. As well, it is responsible for the power sector and oversees the power utility, the Central Electricity Board (CEB). The CEB, which is also a generator and supplier of electricity, acts as the electricity regulator.

The country imports 900,000 tons of petroleum products, comprising 380 CST and 180 CST heavy fuel oil, gasoline, diesel, kerosene and LPG, and 225,000 tons of coal annually.

In December 2010, Mauritius launched an initiative asking the population to produce electricity from renewable sources. At that time, while also offering to provide a model for other countries to follow suit, Energy and Public Utilities Minister Dr Rashid Beebeejaun said the aim is to reduce the island’s greenhouse gas emissions and enhance energy resilience.

The CEB projects the island will need about 400 MWh each day by 2025, and it aims to produce 60 percent of its needs from renewable sources. The island’s Grid Code is an important step to promote the adoption of small-scale renewable generation by individual consumers. The code permitting clients to feed power into the national grid is also attracting sugar farmers. Due to a global decline in prices for sugar, thousands of hectares of sugar plantation land have recently been abandoned.

Produced by the Central Electricity Board (CEB), the Grid Code establishes the standards of performance, reliability and safety for the planning and operation of the power system in which clients can produce electricity from photovoltaic, wind or hydrological sources for their own use and sell any surplus to the national network. The code is restricted to plants up to a maximum capacity of 50 kilowatts and the total installed capacity is limited to a maximum of 200 plants island-wide.

"Our turnkey solution is attractive," Yeo concludes, "and it’s nice to be able to work with like-minded, forward-thinking people on these very exciting projects, which we agree will provide a model for many other countries throughout the Sunbelt."

Solamon Energy typically offers a ground-mounted solar array of integrated photovoltaic cells over a package of land called the Apollo Acre™. The company now also designs and installs custom solutions with local partners to provide roof-mounted and parking lot systems that are easily augmented by micro wind turbine technology and other innovative features to supply renewable energy.

Solamon Energy Corp. sells integrated arrays of ground-mounted and rooftop photovoltaic cells. These solar power plants are connected by cable to varied transmission equipment, including converters, inverters and batteries, utilizing 5 acres of land per unit; each unit is called an Apollo Acre™. Additionally, it is expected the company’s business activities will spin-off many jobs locally, given engineering requirements, construction, unit commissioning and subsequent maintenance.

www.solamonenergy.com