Chocolate producer chooses green power

Solarcentury has completed its largest project in Africa, and the most significant commercial and industrial (C&I) solar installation in Nigeria.

The largest C&I solar installation for Solarcentury’s Africa market was commissioned in October 2018, for Tulip Cocoa Processing (TCP), awarded by Dutch energy storage specialists, Alfen BV.

This project has taken place at TCP’s cocoa beans factory in Ijebu Imushin, Nigeria; solar installed on the roof of the factory buildings and also on ground structures. Construction took just over 6 months, meeting targets.

Frans Van Den Heuvel, Chief Executive of Solarcentury said he was “delighted to see Solarcentury construct its first project in Nigeria.

“The region is currently a blossoming market for us and we have some exciting developments in the pipeline. We’re working with a number of international companies looking to reduce energy costs and their climate impact, taking advantage of the significant benefits of solar.

“As the largest development of its kind in Nigeria, the TCP project represents a real milestone for both Solarcentury and the solar sector in the region,” he said.

Guillaume Avranche, Hybrid Business Development Manager Africa for Solarcentury, said: “This project is the largest ever constructed by Solarcentury in Africa and the largest of its kind in the C&I sector in Nigeria.”

TCP previously relied solely on diesel generators with high, fluctuating costs. When this site is fully operational, it will significantly reduce operating costs, allow for long term budgeting, and prevent thousands of tonnes of CO₂ from being emitted each year.

Guillaume added: “Solarcentury has demonstrated that solar power projects can provide an economic and independent source of energy, reducing OPEX for businesses reliant on weak grids or power from fossil fuels.”

Original 2017 announcement http://www.solarcentury.com/solarcentury-build-largest-commercial-industrial-solar-project-africa/