A consortium led by Saft has been awarded a multi-million euro project by Akuo Energy. This turnkey contract is realized in partnership with Ingeteam (Spain), a manufacturer of power electronics and energy management systems, and Corex Solar (based in La Réunion) to build the Bardzour solar photovoltaic (PV) production and Li-ion energy storage system on the French island of La Réunion in the Indian Ocean. The project at Le Port will combine a 9 MWp power plant with a 9 MWh Intensium Max+ 20E containerized battery system in the Consortium’s turnkey contract for a complete energy production and storage scheme. Delivery is planned during the first half of the year.
The Bardzour installation is the largest project announced in the group of 16 solar farm projects awarded in 2012 under the French CRE tender for a total of 50 MW of solar PV production capacity coupled with storage in Corsica and French overseas departments.
Energy storage will play an important enabling role in further increasing the share of already cost-competitive renewable generation in non-interconnected island grids by making solar and wind power a predictable and reliable element within the overall energy mix and contributing to grid stability. The future market potential in French overseas territories is estimated as several hundreds of MW of storage.
