Seychelles targets 100% Renewable: 41 Public Solar Schools and Curieuse 100% Renewable

 

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed this morning by the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of the People's Republic of China. The MOU expresses the Chinese and the Seychelles Government’s commitment in tackling climate change whereby China will be assisting the Seychelles with a 30 Million Chinese Yuan grant (approx..59 million rupees) to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy through the South-South Climate Change cooperation framework. The South-South Cooperation (SSC) initiative was launched by NDRC to help other developing countries through the provision of energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE) goods and equipment. 

Minister  Dogley and Ambassador Yu Jinsong in the middle alongside the NDRC delegation

It is with that commitment that the NDRC will be installing 41 public Schools with photovoltaic systems and weather device monitoring equipment and the Curieuse island with solar PV and battery system. Moreover 800 Solar Street lights will be handed over to the government of Seychelles after the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change sought after financial assistance in increasing the number of street lights whilst reducing low carbon emission. The Curieuse 100 % Renewable will help the small island be less dependent on fossil fuel as they depend on gasoline generators (5.5 kVA and 8.5 kVA) for electricity; annually this cost around USD 7,500. Last year, schools on both Praslin and La Digue became solar schools when they were installed with solar pv, through this grant the remaining schools on Mahe will also be installed with pv. The schools will be able to reduce their PUC electricity bills and learn more about solar energy.

PS Agricole addressing the invited guests and the press.

The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change (MEECC) raised an application to the Provision of Goods for Addressing Climate Change Program an aid scheme which focuses on the provision of goods/equipment as well as technical training. In their visit to Seychelles ,the NDRC delegation were able to visit the Curieuse island  and some of the schools on Mahe yesterday with representatives from the Seychelles Energy Commission, PUC, Ministry of Education, Seychelles National Parks Authority, UNDP and MEECC. Both projects are expected to complete in the next three years. It will help Seychelles reach its target of producing 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, and 100% in the long term. The MOU took place in the presence of Minister Didier Dogley and Ambassador MmeYu Jinsong as PS Wills Agricole signed on behalf of the Ministry and Mr. Xie Ji- Director General of the NDRC. The NDRC delegation will be leaving Seychelles this evening.