Seychelles Islands Development Company (IDC), an entity set up by the East African country’s government to ensure the sustainable development of 14 outer islands in the country, has commissioned two solar-power-plants at Astove & Farquhar islands whose construction begun back in October 2020.
The solar power plant facility at Farquhar Island consists of 510 panels and it is capable of delivering 250 kWp that is enough to cater to 94% of the electricity needs of the entire island. The second installation in Astove Island is capable of delivering 150 kWp generated through 342 solar panels. The produce can supply 93% of the households and small businesses on the entire Island.
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Benefits of the solar power plants
According to Glenny Savy, the IDC’s managing director, the new solar power plants will enable the two beneficiary islands to reduce pollution and, above all, to save money on electricity production.
“The commissioning of the solar farms on Farquhar and Astove means that we no longer need to transport diesel from Mahe for electricity production, and this will bring a huge saving for these two islands,” he explained adding that, “As IDC we will save a lot of money and as a country, we will no longer be importing this fuel.”
Future plans for the island
Following the commissioning of the two solar power plants, IDC now has three solar farms up and running. The first solar facility was inaugurated in November 2018 on Alphonse.
Glenny Savy, has disclosed that a fourth, much bigger solar farm is under construction on Desroches and that it is expected to come online in June this year. The station, according to IDC’s managing director will have a capacity of 2.5 megawatts.
“By June 2022, most, if not all, of the islands managed by the IDC will be using solar energy, which means that we will be using 100% green energy,” affirmed Glenny Savy.
