Ivory Coast: 1st solar power plant connected to national grid aims supply to more than 430k homes

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The development of renewable energy sources is one of the main tasks of the ministry of energy. In this sense, the African nation is promoting the use of solar power plants to contribute to the development of the energy mix

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00:00 In Ivory Coast, the development of renewable energy sources is one of the main tasks of

00:05 the Ministry of Energy.

00:06 In this sense, the African nation is promoting the use of solar power plants to contribute

00:10 to the development of the energy mix.

00:11 Let's find out about the first solar plant connected to the national grid.

00:17 Inaugurated in June 2023, Ivory Coast's first solar power plant is located in the

00:23 city of Boundi Ali, in the north of the country, and is the first to be connected to the national

00:28 grid as part of the West African country's commitment to clean energy without fossil

00:32 fuels, with the aim of improving electricity supply to more than 430,000 households, according

00:39 to the Ministry of Energy.

00:43 On the other hand, in Boundi Ali, the northern part of the country, irradiance is very high.

00:49 Irradiance is the quantity of light that the sky sends, that the forgiving sun sends to

00:53 the earth.

00:54 So we have a lot more of this quantity of light in the northern part of the country.

00:58 So the most appropriate place to build solar photovoltaic power plants is really in the

01:03 northern part of the country.

01:05 Unlike the more humid and cloudy south, the northern climate is warm and dry for much

01:10 of the year, which makes it very suitable for solar energy.

01:15 If we have several solar photovoltaic power stations, what will that do?

01:20 Relieve the transit of energy that passes through these lines from the south to the

01:23 north of the country.

01:25 So that's the importance of having.

01:28 And it contributes to the energy mix.

01:30 We're going to use water, gas, but also the sun.

01:34 We're going to make sure that wherever we invest, we have the maximum amount of electricity.

01:40 In this region of some 92,000 inhabitants, some 350 people have been hired since the

01:46 plant's construction began.

01:48 Most were hired on a short-term basis to install solar panels or perform maintenance tasks.

01:53 I like working here at the plant because I get paid well, I can feed my family and look

01:58 after people at home.

01:59 Well, I'd prefer the job to last a bit longer, but if it does, I'll really enjoy it.

02:06 Ivory Coast already exports about 10 percent of its electricity to neighboring countries

02:11 and aims to generate almost half of its power from renewable sources by 2030 in a continent

02:16 that although has doubled its capacity to produce clean energy, still account for only

02:20 2 percent of global capacity.

02:22 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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