Promoting investments in small to medium scale renewable energy technologies in the electricity sector of Guinea Bissau

The GEF Project (ID 5331) entitled “Promoting investments in small to medium scale renewable energy technologies in the electricity sector of Guinea-Bissau” is executed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in close partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Industry of Guinea Bissau, the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) and the Small Island Sustainable Energy and Climate Resilience Organization (SIDS DOCK).

Through combined interventions in the areas of technology demonstration, policy advisory, knowledge management and capacity development, the project aims at the creation of an enabling environment for renewable energy investments. The project foresees the development and installation of a set of renewable energy projects with a total electric capacity of 2.5 MW. Besides other technologies, particular emphasis has been given to innovative medium-scale PV mini-grid hybrid systems (between 300 to 500 kWp) for rural electrification and productive uses.

In this context, UNIDO, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU/UEMOA) and the African Biofuel and Renewable Energy Company (ABREC-SABER) are partnering on the construction of a solar PV hybrid mini-grid for the city of Bissorã with a total installed electric capacity of 500 kWp. The company Prosolia Africa has been contracted to undertake the required civil works and turn-key installation of the power station. The civil works are already in an advanced stage and will be completed within July 2017. The power station is expected to be installed by the end of 2017 and will be followed by grid and household connection works.

The mini-grid in Bissorã is a replication project of the PV hybrid mini-grid project for Bambadinca Sta Claro. It is operating since 2015 and has an installed electric capacity of 312 kWp. The project was implemented by TESE Sem Fronteiras in partnership with the Associação Comunitária de Desenvolvimento de Bambadinca (ACDB), with financial and technical support of the European Union (EU), UNIDO and the Camões – Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua. The Bissorã project will benefit from the lessons learned of the Bambadinca Sta Claro project which has adopted a community based operation and management model.

Objective of the Assignment