Liberian utility Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) is looking to hire an environmental consultant firm to prepare environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) for a 15 MW solar and 10 MWh energy storage project.
The facility is planned to be grid– connected to the Schieffelin substation on the ELWA Highway that connects Liberia's capital Monrovia to the international airport. All project equipment is preassembled and transported in containers by Release, a portfolio company of Norway's Scatec.
"The Solar PV plant project aims to provide a quick and flexible option for constructing a PV and battery storage power plant and to give the country with a low-cost, clean, and dependable power supply," reads the statement from LEC. "The plant is delivered on a flexible leasing arrangement with a five-year initial term."
LEC intends to enter into a flexible leasing arrangement with Release and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for the project.
Along with conducting the ESIA study, the consultant will also be expected to prepare an environmental and social management plan (ESMP) for the proposed project.
The last date to submit applications is August 25, 2023, according to the tender call on LEC's website.
Back in 2016, a Netherlands based company, Gigawatt Global, was reported to be interested in building a 10 MW solar power plant in Monrovia for the LEC (see Gigawatt Global PV Project In Liberia).
According to the Green Climate Fund, Liberia aims to have renewable energy accounting for 30% of its electricity mix by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. It expects 100 MW of renewable energy generation, including solar, and investments of about $242 million will need to be made by independent power producers (IPP) to achieve the same.