The power plant needs to provide 12MW of peak load for the uranium mine. It will do this with a combination of 16MW solar PV generation capacity, a 15MW battery energy storage system (BESS) and 16MW of diesel generation for backup. It will also be integrated into the local grid owned and operated by Sonichar, a majority state-owned utility company.
Broadening energy access is a central national development objective in Niger. At present, less than 25% of the population enjoys access to electricity, and the picture in rural areas is bleaker, at less than 5% electricity access. Generation of electricity through renewables has long been viewed as an important way to close this gap.
The Government of Niger views providing reliable electricity and other basic energy services to all populations and parts of the country as a critical aspect of its inclusive economic transformation plans. It also recognises decentralised renewable energy options as a cost-effective alternative to grid expansion in many rural areas.
Is energy access a Criti-Cal barrier to development in Niger?
Energy access in Niger remains a criti-cal barrier to the country's development. Modest improvements have been experi-enced in recent years. However, electricity access in Niger remains low at about 24% and almost all the population relies on the unsustainable use of traditional biomass (MP/AT-DC, 2011).
Is Niger's electricity supply sufficient to meet the growing demand?
In Niger, the majority of population today does not have access to electricity. This study analyzes how the electricity consumption could increase, and whether Niger's supply plans are sufficient to meet the growing demand. With the current efforts of electrification, Niger will have supply capacity of 1,361 GWh by 2020 and 1,444 GWh by 2024.
What percentage of Niger's energy supply is renewable?
Mineral coal for electricity generation accounts for the remaining balance at 3% of total energy supplies in Niger. The share of renewables as a proportion of TPES remains negligible at less than 1%, assuming that all biomass is non-renewable - which is not the case.
Why is access to energy a problem in Niger?
Despite this rich potential, access to energy is still a challenge for the authorities. Final energy consumption in Niger is estimated at 0.15 toe per capita, one of the lowest in the world. The weakness of this value is mainly due to limited access of Niger's households to modern energy.