Our impact
The Ten Merina project consists of the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of a 30 MWp solar power plant and the construction of a 3-km transmission line on behalf of the client Senelec, the Senegalese electricity utility. The project is located near Mbouky, approximately 145 km from Dakar.
Tenergie, the initial developer of the project, signed a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement with Senelec at the end of December 2013. Meridiam partnered with Eiffage and joined the project as majority shareholder to finalize the development phase and raise the financing required for financial close. As part of the partnership set with FONSIS, the latter was invited to join Ten Merina through the acquisition of 10% of the share capital in Q4 2017.
This is Meridiam’s second solar power project in Senegal, delivering an additional reliable supply of low-cost and low-carbon electricity.
Overall, Ten Merina is a significant contributor to Senegal’s installed solar PV capacity and is providing clean and affordable power to more than 200,000 Senegalese people.
A farming perimeter has been set up to help the population increase their revenues through an intensive farming programme with water now made available all year long, thanks to the water drills carried out by the project company. The first harvests (tomatoes, eggplants, okra) occurred in 2019 and vegetables were sold to the local market to the benefit of the local population. Thanks to regular training held in favour of the communities, the transfer of responsibility of the perimeter to full autonomy was done during February 2021. This 10-ha farming perimeter has created 12 local jobs.
The training and research initiative with IDCR (International Development Research Center) Canada and the Polytechnic School of Dakar to implement the first renewable energy research programme in the region is now in place. The programme delivers short term qualification certificates to students as well as engineers and technicians from the energy sector willing to specialize in renewables. It was officially launched in Dakar in February 2019. The first year was marked by the setup of the programme:
PhD students, assistants and technicians were hired as part of the project. Over the course of 2019, along with the successful development of the Solar Systems Testing Centre, training of 42 technicians (including 7 women) and 52 senior staff (including 12 women) was completed. The programme is advancing as expected and is aiming at training 100 technicians and 100 officers in total. The programme has been so successful that a Phase 2 is under discussion with potential local partners, while aiming at extending similar trainings across West Africa. Structure of Phase 2 is being discussed and the launch should occur beginning of 2022.
In Operation, Completion date 20 November 2017
Learn more about the project:
Meridiam achieves financial close for two solar projects in Senegal
Meridiam Closes its First Carbon Credits Sales for Two Solar Power plants In Senegal
Solar power plant in operation in Senegal
record from Senergy project leveraged
to local communities are significant
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