Egypt is building what could be the world’s largest solar hybrid facility at an off-grid mine.

The US$37 million solar plant, located at the Sukari gold mine near the Red Sea in Egypt’s Eastern Desert, is scheduled for commissioning during the first half of 2022. The facility will comprise 36 MW of solar and 7.5 MW of battery energy, which will be integrated with the existing diesel power plant.

Gold producer Centamin says that the plant is expected to reduce diesel fuel consumption at the mine by an estimated 22 million litres a year and will lower annual carbon emissions by about 60 000 tons. The plant will use bifacial PV modules that produce solar power from both sides of the panel.

The miner has appointed global renewable energy specialist Juwi to supply, design and integrate the hybrid plant with the existing diesel plant. The company will partner with systems integrator Giza Systems for the installation.

The plant is expected to save up to US$13 million in annual fuel costs, reduce exposure to fuel-price volatility, establish a reliable power system and cut fuel-transport traffic to and from site.

11 May 2021
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