Farming Company
In the region of Saint Louis, Senegal, the Société des Cultures Légumières (SCL) is a thriving farm with around 2000ha of sweet corn, green beans, peppers, squashes, and onions destined for the local, subregional and European markets. Like many other local agricultural companies, SCL faced power challenges that affected their costs.
Challenges
Société des Cultures Légumières’s high energy-consuming activities, such as irrigation and cooling, led to exorbitant energy costs from the grid, affecting their financial stability and limiting sustainable growth. Finding a cost-effective and eco-friendly energy solution was essential to ensure their long-term commitment to sustainable agricultural practices.
Transitioning to renewable energy, in line with their sustainability commitments, was the best solution. However, this was a new field requiring specific expertise and know-how, both in terms of technicality and in the ability to manage such a project.
Photovoltaic Plant Inauguration Ceremony:
Maire de Diama, Mr. Oumar Sow
SCL General Director, Mr. Michael Laurent
German Ambassador, Mr. Sönke Siemo
Solution
SCL contacted us to study possible solutions. From GRIPS Energy, we embarked on a comprehensive journey, starting with a full understanding of their needs. We tailored the renewable energy solution to meet SCL’s energy and financial requirements.
In collaboration with our local partner, we made their transition to green energy a reality.
Solution highlights:
- Installed capacity: 604 kWp
- Module type: JA Solar JAM S72S20 – 460 W
- Inverter type: 110 KW Multi-String Inverter SMA STP CORE 2
- Mounting system: PEG EW de JURCHEN TECHNOLOGY
- Annual yield: 1040 MWh/an
- Annual CO2 savings: 300 tons
Benefits
The impact was immediate and profound as the photovoltaic (PV) system, covering 45% of SCL’s electricity consumption, ensured a stable power supply that aligns with SCL’s sustainability goals, resulting in a substantial annual reduction of approximately 300 tons in CO2 emissions.
The implementation of a sustainable energy source facilitated a notable reduction in the farm’s electricity bills from day one, enhancing its financial stability.
From GRIPS, along with our local partner, we will operate and maintain the PV plant throughout its lifecycle, ensuring peak performance while SCL can focus on growing its business.
The success of this project is just the beginning of SCL’s journey toward greener energy solutions, as we actively explore options to expand the current system size and develop new projects to cover a higher percentage of energy needs by green energy supply.
Want to learn how your business can benefit from renewable energies?
Contact us, and our team of experts will be happy to assist you.
German Energy Solutions Initiative
With the aim of positioning German technologies and know-how worldwide, the German Energy Solutions Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action (BMWK) supports suppliers of climate-friendly energy solutions in opening up foreign markets. The focus lies on renewable energies, energy efficiency, smart grids and storage, as well as technologies such as power-to-gas and fuel cells. Aimed in particular at small and medium-sized enterprises, the German Energy Solutions Initiative supports participants through measures to prepare market entry as well as to prospect, develop and secure new markets.
Renewable Energy Solutions Programme (RES Programme)
With the RES programme, the Energy Export Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action (BMWK) helps German companies in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors enter new markets. Within the framework of the programme, reference plants are installed and marketed with the support of the German Energy Agency (dena). Information and training activities help ensure a sustainable market entry and demonstrate the quality of climate-friendly technologies made in Germany.
The German Energy Agency (dena) is a centre of excellence for the applied energy transition and climate protection. dena studies the challenges of building a climate-neutral society and supports the German government in achieving its energy and climate policy objectives. Since its foundation in 2000, dena has worked to develop and implement solutions and bring together national and international partners from politics, industry, the scientific community and all parts of society. dena is a project enterprise and a public company owned by the German federal government. dena’s shareholder is the Federal Republic of Germany.
The RES Senegal project supports GRIPS Energy in implementing communication, marketing and training activities in West Africa. This project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as part of the Renewable Energy Solutions Programme of the German Energy Solutions Initiative.
