HES-SO – Ivory Coast

Swiss Partners

HES-SO Valais Wallis
www.hevs.ch/en/minisites/projects-products/dude-lab
Dominique Genou

Project Type:

Pilot project

Technology:

Photovoltaics

Country:

Ivory Coast

Project Status:

Completed

Project Start:

2017

End of Project:

2022

Contract:

2017.07

Swiss Contribution

The HES-SO (University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland) develops algorithms for the analysis and prediction of energy consumption and production of renewable energies. It can build on Solartechnology.ch sarl’s considerable expertise; a Swiss company that specializes in solar panel installation and electric battery management.

Description

The Ivorian government aims to increase shares of renewable energies in the country’s energy mix and electrification by 2025. As part of this project, a 15 kWp photovoltaic micro-network combined with a 9.6 kWh lithium-ion battery was planned. It will be managed by a smart box that optimizes battery charge/discharge, based on production and consumption forecasting algorithms, and above all, ensures reliable power supply off the national grid. In addition to providing electricity for campus buildings, the project will train electricians from the “Centre des Métiers de l’Electricité (CME),” near Abidjan, who will be able to install the same types of systems in rural areas in the future. Furthermore, the project will promote the training of local cooperatives on collecting revenue from the resale of electricity and facilities’ maintenance and monitoring in rural areas.

Results

The smart box and optimized battery management have been developed. The weather analysis profiles made it possible to establish scenarios for the generated power production and consumption. Although initially planned in Burkina Faso, the micro-grid and its smart box should have been installed in the Ivory Coast, for security and authorization purposes. The project was stopped at the end of 2022. Administrative work will take place in 2023 to formally conclude the project.