The island of Saint Helena has entered into a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for a solar, wind and battery storage microgrid project, which PASH Global claims will make it one of the 'greenest' islands in the British Overseas Territories. The island has signed the PPA through its only utility Connect Saint Helena Ltd.
PASH Global, an impact investor, clean energy project developer and majority owner of Singapore based commodity trading company Trafigura, will set up the microgrid solution comprising a 568kWp/500 kW solar farm, 2.7 MW wind farm with 3 turbines and a 3.2 MWh/3.5 MW battery energy storage system (BESS).
Power generated by this system will deliver 'lowest' cost of electricity to the island helping it reduce its reliance on imported diesel, switching entirely to renewable energy to meet majority of its electricity needs through renewable energy. The exact tariff under the arrangement was not shared.
On completion of the 25-year PPA term, PASH Global will transfer the generation assets to Connect Saint Helena.
The island aims to become 100% self-sufficient by increasing the share of renewable energy on the island to avoid significant increases in its energy costs under its 10-year Energy Strategy.
PASH Global Founders Kofi Owusu Bempah and Vine Mwense said, "The project will not only save over 150,000 metric tons of carbon emissions over its useful life, it will also provide Saint Helena with security of electricity supply from a unique hybrid of renewable sources."
UK's merchant banking group Close Brothers and Indian solar EPC Sterling and Wilson are project partners to PASH Global on this project.
In January 2020, Trafigura acquired a 49.9% stake in Akuo Energy's 50 MW solar project in Mali through PASH Global (see Trafigura Acquires Stake In 50 MW Mali PV Farm).