In June 2019, the Seychelles government issued a request for proposals (RFP) to a group of pre-qualified bidders and joint ventures for the island country's first utility-scale, private sector funded floating solar power plant with 4 MW capacity. Sharing this information, the Clinton Foundation said shortlisted bidders were selected in 2018 in a first phase of procurement.
Clinton Foundation is supporting the Government of Seychelles and the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) in implementing the project along with the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF). The project has been launched by the Seychelles Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, and the Seychelles Energy Commission (SEC).
To be located in Lagoon le Rocher in Providence Lagoon on Mahé Island, the tender was first launched in April 2018 as the first utility-scale floating solar PV project in entire Africa (see 4 MW Floating PV Tender In Seychelles).
Clinton Foundation said the RFP round requires bidders to submit their technical and financial proposals for the project with an estimated capacity of 3.5 MW to 4 MW in September 2019. Tender winners are likely to be announced in November 2019. On completion, the facility is expected to become operational in 2020.
Shortlisted bidders are:
Pre-qualified bidders visited the site in the first week of June 2019 and networked with local contractors as well. Winner will have its task cut out to finance, design, build, own and operate the plant. Once the project is grid connected, it will sell clean power to the PUC under 25-year contract.
Clinton Foundation said not only the plant will be Seychelles' first independent power producer (IPP), but also the world's first utility-scale floating solar power project in a marine environment 'paving the way for further marine projects, a crucial opportunity for island nations and other land-scarce energy systems'.