Baoma Solar Power Station Explained

Baoma Solar Power Station should not be confused with Baomahun Hybrid Power Station.

Baoma Solar Power Station
Coordinates:8.1856°N -11.7986°W
Country:Sierra Leone
Location:Yamandu, Southern Province
Status:O
Commissioned:December 2022 (Phase I: 5 MW)
December 2023 (Phase II: 20 MW) Expected
Cost:US$35 million
Owner:Baoma Solar Consortium
Operator:Serengeti Energy Limited
Solar Type:PV

Baoma Solar Power Station, is a solar power plant under construction in Sierra Leone. The first phase of this renewable energy infrastructure with generation capacity of 5 MW is operational and was commercially commissioned in December 2022. The second phase with generation capacity of 20 MW is under construction and is expected to come online in the Q4 of 2023.[1] It is reported to be the first grid-connected solar farm in the country, built under a public-private partnership.[2] [3]

Location

The power station is located in the village of Yamandu, in the Southern Province of the country, near the city of Bo. (This location is different from Yamandu, a town in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone).[1]

Yamandu in Sierra Leone's Southern Province is approximately 45km (28miles) by road, northwest of Bo City. This is approximately 240km (150miles), by road southeast of Freetown, the country's capital.

Overview

The power station design calls for generation capacity of 25 megawatts. The solar farm was constructed in two phases. Phase 1, also referred to as Baoma 1 Solar Power Station (Baoma 1), with capacity of 5 MW was commercially commissioned in December 2022. The second phase with generation capacity of 20MW is under construction and is expected online in 2023, to increase capacity to 25 megawatts.[1] [2] The output of this solar farm is sold directly to the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), the national electricity distribution utility company, for integration into the national grid.[4]

Developers

The power station was developed and is operated by Serengeti Energy Limited, an independent power producer (IPP) headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya that focuses on sub-Saharan Africa.Collaboration with Sierra Leone authorities was instrumental in achieving completion.[1] [4]

Construction timeline and costs

The first phase reached commercial commissioning in 2022. The second and final phase is expected online in or after 2023.[3] The entire constructing is expected to cost US$35 million.[1]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 14 December 2022 . Sierra Leone: Baoma 1 solar PV plant goes live as a PPP . Afrik21.afrik . Jean Marie Takouleu . 5 August 2023 . Paris, France.
  2. Web site: Construction Review Online . 21 December 2022 . Baoma 1 solar power plant, Sierra Leone’s first of }} kind commences commercial operations ]. Mienyeseighe Atalawei . 4 August 2023 . Nairobi, Kenya.
  3. Web site: Green Building Africa . 5MW Solar PV Project Commissioned In Sierra Leone . 20 December 2022 . Brian Groenendaal . 5 August 2023 . Cape Town, South Africa.
  4. Web site: First Solar IPP In Sierra Leone Reaches Commercialisation . ESI-Africa . 21 December 2022 . Theresa Smith . 5 August 2023 . Cape Town, South Affrica.