The 2.9 MW solar plant will avoid the combustion of about 1.3 million litres of heavy oil per year.
The "Solar GEM®" containers from our French partner Akuo Energy are placed with millimeter precision.
The 2.9 MW solar plant under construction, according to the "Plug&Play" principle.
The rails are ready after extensive earthworks.
The solar modules are simply pulled out of the solar containers as from an accordion box and are then unfolded with little effort on the pre-laid rails.
The local technicians discharge a new low-voltage main distribution board.
An Akuo Energy technician connects the new low voltage cables.

Summary

Total savings :approx. 3,000 tonnes CO₂ per year
Technology transfer :2.9 MWp solar power plant connected to the Toliara grid
Local environment :Lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduced local air pollution
Further advantages :More reliable electricity supply, reduced dependence on imported fuel, support for renewable energy development and local employment
Project partners :Akuo Madagascar S.A.; Groupe Filatex; Enelec

Madagascar is the largest island nation in Africa and faces significant challenges in providing reliable electricity to its population. Despite recent progress, only around 42% of the population has access to electricity¹,whilst only around 7% of people living in rural areas have access to electricity ². Many villages remain beyond the reach of the national electricity grid and rely on candles, kerosene lamps, batteries or diesel generators for basic energy services. Improving access to affordable and reliable energy is essential for economic development, education, healthcare and quality of life.

The Toliara solar project helps reduce the use of heavy fuel oil for electricity generation in southern Madagascar. The 2.9 MWp solar power plant supplies renewable electricity to the local grid, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting a more reliable electricity supply for the region. The plant has been operating since November 2020.

Since 2019, atmosfair has supported renewable energy projects in Madagascar to help expand access to clean electricity and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.

Toliara previously relied on heavy fuel oil for electricity generation

Toliara is the largest city in southern Madagascar. Historically, much of the city’s electricity was supplied by a heavy fuel oil power plant. While this helped meet local electricity demand, generation costs were high and depended on imported fossil fuels. Before the solar project was installed, the power plant generated around 34 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year and consumed approximately 8.8 million litres of heavy fuel oil.

Adding solar generation to the local electricity system reduces fuel consumption, lowers emissions and strengthens energy security by diversifying electricity generation sources.

atmosfair helped finance a 2.9 MWp solar power plant

To prevent the construction of an additional power plant, atmosfair supported the construction of the 2.9 MWp solar power plant through a low-interest loan provided to Akuo Energy. The solar plant feeds renewable electricity directly into the local electricity network, reducing the amount of electricity that needs to be generated using heavy fuel oil and avoiding the combustion of approximately 1.3 million litres of heavy fuel oil per year.

The project uses Akuo Energy’s Solar GEM® technology, a modular solar power system designed for fast installation. Solar panels are pulled out of a container and unfolded onto pre-installed rails, much like an accordion. This allows large solar arrays to be installed quickly without first building steel support structures. The wiring is already integrated into the system, so the panels can be connected using a simple plug-and-play approach³.

The plant was commissioned in November 2020 and is operated by Enelec, the energy division of Groupe Filatex.

The solar plant generates around 3.5 to 4 GWh of renewable electricity each year, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 3,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. Based on monitored electricity generation and consumption data, the project provides enough clean electricity to meet the annual needs of around 3,000 household connections, benefiting approximately 14,000 people. The project also supports local employment through plant operation, maintenance, security and site management activities.

Our Partners: Akuo Energy, Enelec and Groupe Filatex

Akuo Energy developed the Toliara solar power plant. The facility is operated by Enelec, the energy division of Groupe Filatex. Together, they help supply renewable electricity to southern Madagascar while reducing reliance on imported heavy fuel oil and supporting Madagascar’s energy transition.

Your contact at atmosfair

Danielle Merlino
Project Manager
+49 30 120848048