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Taking place in Cape Town, South Africa, Release by Scatec hosted delegates from the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE)‘s West African Power Pool (WAPP) Organisation – a specialised agency associating public and private power entities of 14 West African states. As part of a broader programme led by WAPP, and funded by the World Bank, the objective was to upskill power experts in the realm of renewable energy – in order to trigger scaling up of investment and development of solar PV plants at a regional (continental) scale.

WAPP in Cape Town, South Africa.

The WAPP and Release by Scatec partnered to drive education and experience in solar PV plant operation and maintenance, leveraging Scatec’s experience in successfully operating large scale PV plants. With a dedicated focus to the West African region, Release led a one-week study trip to Scatec’s Cape Town office, and operational PV facilities and test sites in Upington and Stellenbosch.

Upington Solar Complex, Northern Cape, South Africa.

In addition to this, classroom sessions were hosted – as well as a tour Scatec’s Control and Monitoring Centre (CMC). Bustling discussions with Scatec and Release staff enabled the trainees to exchange on real life issues related to PV power plant operations.

Trainees were also invited to a presentation from Dr. Wikus Kruger, an academic and industry leader from the University of Cape Town, who shared lessons and pathways to accelerated investment into renewable energy on the African continent. The chief engineer from the Planning Centre of Excellence (Eskom), Riaan Smit, also made hosted a session on the planning of PV deployment and grid related integration challenges.

Sub Station, Sirius, Upington Solar Complex, Northern Cape, South Africa.

Throughout this process, the Release by Scatec business model was explained, and shown in action. Challenges of high capital amounts (if publicly financed), guarantee requirements, 25 years commitment and difficulties to reach financial close (if private projects) for solar PV facilities were all highlight as hurdles to widespread implementation of renewable energy in emerging markets. Release by Scatec’s study tour not only allowed knowledge transfer to occur, but also showed that our business offering solves pain points currently experienced by African utilities: a partnership approach that has simplified and flexible contracts, quick installation, limited upfront investment, scalability, and guaranteed performance. The Release model truly empowers the client – with deep learning and understanding transferred during the operation and maintenance of the plant. This is where true knowledge sharing happens.

O&M, Site Building, Northern Cape, South Africa.

Throughout the week, the trainees built a strong team spirit thanks to the visits, workshops, and mutual sharing of experience by Scatec and Release. A sense of pride was felt by the organising committee, as it was a unique moment where our company and employees could share their experience and expertise – as well as learn the delegation of WAPP members.

Scaling and launching an independent Release platform is key in the optimisation of Scatec’s portfolio, and a driving force in the company’s updated strategy. Sharing our offering to key stakeholders and markets is crucial to our growth, and we are proud to show our strategy in action.

In sunny Cape Town, South Africa, Release and Scatec ASA are hosting delegates from the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE)‘s West African Power Pool (WAPP) Organisation – a specialised agency associating public and private power entities of 14 West African states. ☀️🌍

The first days of the learning tour included an introduction to Scatec’s local offices, a deep dive into the company’s operation and maintenance (O&M) activities, and a visit to Scatec ASA‘s Upington projects. 👇

Our ultimate goal is to give trainees knowledge that can be used for day-to-day energy operations – and for them to experience the technical expertise of how to deal with real-life challenges in the O&M of solar PV plants. ⚡

Present at the 11th Norwegian-African Business Association (NABA) Summit, Hans Olav Kvalvaag shared his thoughts as to how Release can strategically impact Africa’s energy transition.💡

“Release is a solution that mitigates the challenges facing the expedited rollout of renewables in Africa. We are a flexible and rapidly deployable solution solving carbon and costs hurdles for mines and utilities on the continent.” 🔋☀️

13 December 2021: Release by Scatec has entered into a lease agreement with electricity company ENEO in Cameroon to deliver two hybrid solar and storage plants totalling 36 MW solar and 20 MW/19 MWh storage. The plants will supply low cost, clean and reliable electricity in Maroua and Guider in the Grand-North of Cameroon. IFC is partnering with Release to realise these redeployable projects.

Release by Scatec will further install 7.7 MWp solar in Chad to supply clean, renewable energy to five smaller grids owned by ZIZ Energie. FMO and Energy Access Ventures back the Chad project.

Cameroon

“We are pleased to enter into this agreement with ENEO, which further fuels our journey to make renewable energy more accessible and affordable across growth markets. The deal marks our entry into the Cameroonian market, and we are proud to contribute with a cost-efficient and immediate solution to a cleaner and more stable electricity supply in a region suffering from power shortages caused by droughts limiting the supply of hydropower,” says Raymond Carlsen, CEO at Scatec.

Release by Scatec is a pre-assembled, modular and redeployable solar power and storage system, allowing for fast and easy power generation. ENEO and Release by Scatec have entered into a flexible contract term that enables ENEO to coordinate the generation capacity with their needs going forward.

IFC will contribute 10-20% of the project costs of the Cameroon project and will further support the development of Release by Scatec through project development activities and future financing.

“Access to sustainable, reliable and affordable power is essential to economic recovery and growth. IFC is proud to partner with Scatec’s Release to help bridge the power gap in Cameroon through a unique solution that enables solar power systems to be quickly deployed to help meet the electricity needs of today while paving the way for more competitive, cleaner and long-term energy sector sustainability in Cameroon. This partnership fits with the World Bank Group’s mandate to align its work with the Paris Agreement goals to help our private and public sector partners meet global climate targets,” says Sylvain Kakou, IFC’s Country Manager for Central Africa.

The first power is expected to be delivered around year end 2021, and the remaining will be delivered in phases, where the full project is expected to be completed by mid-2022.

The pay-back time for Scatec’s investment in the project is in line with previous guidance around the Release business concept.

“The structure of this project is unique as it ensures supply of clean and reliable energy for governments and utilities, without sovereign guarantee requirements or parliamentary approvals. We believe this model will be a sound solution for many utilities in Africa struggling with power shortages and grid instabilities,” says Hans Olav Kvalvaag, SVP Release by Scatec.

Chad

In Chad, Release by Scatec is installing 7.7 MWp of solar plant capacity  across the country, which will support clean energy access to 300,000 people across 5 provincial cities and their newly built decentralised “metro-grids” developed and operated by local private utility ZIZ Energie. ZIZ Energie is backed by the Dutch FMO and Energy Access Ventures and has recently received funding from the Development Bank of Central African States (BDEAC), to build grid infrastructure and connections to provide access to electricity for households and industries in the proximity. Installation of the power plants is expected to be finished during 2022.

The projects in Cameroon and Chad add to Release by Scatec’s ambitions of providing cost-competitive, high-quality and redeployable renewable energy solutions with a unique financing model to countries and consumers that are hit hardest by the impact of climate change.

For further information, please contact:

Stian Tvede Karlsen, Communications Manager, tel: +47 920 67 460, stian.karlsen@scatec.com

About Scatec ASA
Scatec is a leading renewable power producer, delivering affordable and clean energy worldwide. As a long- term player, Scatec develops, builds, owns and operates solar, wind and hydro power plants and storage solutions. In the first half of 2021, Scatec will have a total of 3.3 GW in operation on four continents and more than 500 employees. The company is targeting 15 GW capacity in operation or under construction by the end of 2025. Scatec is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ‘SCATC’. To learn more about Release by Scatec, visit www.releasesolar.com.

About IFC
IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2021, IFC committed a record $31.5 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

6 September 2021: Release by Scatec has entered a 2-year lease agreement with ENGIE to provide a mobile plug & play solar PV plant. The mobile unit will provide solar energy for ENGIE’s hydrogen production plant located at the Anglo American Platinum – Mogalakwena Mine in Limpopo, South Africa.

“We are proud to support ENGIE and Anglo American in this important project. This is Release by Scatec’s first involvement with powering hydrogen production, and further proves the potential for pre-assembled and containerised solar PV in the mining industry”, says Hans Olav Kvalvaag, SVP Release at Scatec.

This is the first involvement in powering hydrogen production for Scatec as a company, and will be delivered by its scalable power solution, Release. The plant will produce 616kWp of solar energy.

“The agreement is another important milestone for us in delivering reliable and renewable power to the mining industry, but also as a way of powering hydrogen production. The Release model is gaining traction, and with its flexibility both with regards to contract term and capacity, has great potential in mining”, Kvalvaag continues.

The new plant will be a model for how to decarbonise hydrogen production in the mining industry for the future. Release by Scatec has great expectations for the project and its potential to be rolled out on a greater scale.

For further information, please contact:

Stian Tvede Karlsen, Communications Manager
Tel: +47 920 67 460, email: stian.karlsen@scatec.com

About Release by Scatec:

Release designs, finances and installs scalable solar power plants and battery storage and leases out the equipment on short- or long-term contracts.  We guarantee equipment performance, provide 24/7 monitoring and operation and maintenance support, and train local resources to perform regular maintenance tasks.

22 April 2021: Scatec has entered into a lease agreement with mining company Torex Gold for a 8.5 MW solar plant to provide renewable power to the Morelos Media Luna and El Limon Guajes projects in the Guerrero Gold belt 180 km southwest of Mexico City.

“We are very pleased to have entered into this agreement with Torex Gold. The agreement is a landmark deal for “Release by Scatec”, our flexible solution for pre-assembled and containerised solar PV delivering a low cost, clean, and reliable power solution”, says Hans Olav Kvalvaag, SVP Release at Scatec.

The initial contract term is ten years with the possibility of extension and options for buy-out starting after the expiry of year 3. The solar plant can at any time be expanded, including adding battery storage to further increase the use of renewable energy. It can also be moved to a new location if needed. The new solar plant is estimated to be completed in fourth quarter 2021 subject to permitting approvals.

“The agreement is an important milestone for us in delivering reliable and renewable power to the mining industry. We have had a good cooperation with Torex in designing the solution to adapt to challenging topography. The Release model is designed to provide flexibility both with regards to contract term and capacity, and thus has great potential in mining”, Kvalvaag continues.

The new plant is expected to reduce Torex’ Scope 2 greenhouse emissions by up to 8.6% using 2019 as the baseline year and is Torex’ first major foray into renewable energy at its operations.

“As is often the case with innovative and sustainable solutions, in addition to the environmental benefits the solar plant will provide, there will also be economic upside and benefits to the local communities. Factoring in the installed cost of the plant together with the ongoing lease fee, we expect to save approximately USD 1 million per year in energy costs over a 20-year lease period, with full payback of the solar plant realised within approximately 7 years”, says Jody Kuzenko, President & CEO of Torex.

About SCATEC ASA

Scatec is a leading renewable power producer, delivering affordable and clean energy worldwide. As a long- term player, Scatec develops, builds, owns and operates solar, wind and hydro power plants and storage solutions. In the first half of 2021, Scatec will have a total of 3.3 GW in operation on four continents and more than 500 employees. The company is targeting 15 GW capacity in operation or under construction by the end of 2025. Scatec is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ‘SCATC’. To learn more about Scatec, visit www.scatec.com or connect with us on Linkedin.  

About Torex GOLD RESOURCES INC.

Torex is an intermediate gold producer based in Canada, engaged in the exploration, development, and operation of its 100% owned Morelos Gold Property, an area of 29,000 hectares in the highly prospective Guerrero Gold Belt located 180 kilometers southwest of Mexico City.  The Company’s principal assets are the El Limón Guajes mining complex (“ELG” or the “ELG Mine Complex”) comprising the El Limón, Guajes and El Limón Sur open pits, the El Limón Guajes underground mine including zones referred to as Sub-Sill and El Limón Deep (“ELD”), and the processing plant and related infrastructure, which commenced commercial production as of April 1, 2016, and the Media Luna deposit, which is an advanced stage development project, and for which the Company issued an updated preliminary economic assessment in September 2018.  The property remains 75% unexplored.

Scatec ASA is proud to announce that our ISO certification has been extended to include our Release offering. In particular, our ISO certification, i.e. ISO 9001, ISO 14001, & ISO 45001, has been extended to include ‘Planning, design, engineering, construction, leasing, operation and maintenance of solar plant installations and storage solutions globally.’

About Release – making solar simple

Release is a fully scalable solar power solution offering industrial players reliable, clean and cost- efficient containerised solar power through flexible leasing agreements. The company designs, finances and installs scalable solar power plants and battery storage, securely integrated with existing power infrastructure. Focusing on medium and large energy consumers in emerging markets, we use our experience, competence and global presence to make reliable solar power available – reducing electricity costs and increase energy independence. Visit www.releasesolar.com for more information, or follow us on Facebook for updates.

Release is owned and managed by Scatec, a leading Norwegian renewable power producer. Scatec Solar develops, builds, owns, operates and maintains power plants and has a total of 1.9 GW in operation and under construction on four continents.

Energy and Mines World Congress – Towards Zero-Emissions Mining, 8-9 December

This year’s virtual congress will showcase the mining companies, energy experts, and low-carbon solutions. Our Senior Project Developer, New Ventures, Øydis Gadeholt will present Release by Scatec – The flexible, 5-year solar contract on 8 December on the main stage. As one of the exhibitors, we welcome you to visit our digital booth during the congress, here.

Read more about the congress here

Desert to Power – Africa Energy Market Place: Unlocking the Solar Potential of the G5 Sahel Countries

Director of Business Development, West Africa, Arnaud Gouet will present Release in the roundtable session Innovative technologies to accelerate solar projects, to discuss the opportunities and the needs for the Sahel region – where electricity access is considered as the main issue.  The conference is part of the Desert to Power (DtP) initiative by the African Development Bank. The session takes place on 9 December at 10:30 AM CET.

About Release – making solar simple

Release is a fully scalable solar power solution offering industrial players reliable, clean and cost- efficient containerised solar power through flexible leasing agreements. The company designs, finances and installs scalable solar power plants and battery storage, securely integrated with existing power infrastructure. Focusing on medium and large energy consumers in emerging markets, we use our experience, competence and global presence to make reliable solar power available – reducing electricity costs and increase energy independence. Visit www.releasesolar.com for more information, or follow us on Facebook for updates.

Release is owned and managed by Scatec, a leading Norwegian renewable power producer. Scatec Solar develops, builds, owns, operates and maintains power plants and has a total of 1.9 GW in operation and under construction on four continents.

Since late January 2020, our 45kWh pilot project just outside Stellenbosch, South Africa has been operational. The site is a great opportunity for our customers and partners to experience the Release solution live, though due to COVID-19 restrictions these in-person visits have been put on hold. Therefore we have decided to develop a virtual site visit, where our visitors can experience the Release pilot project from their own homes.

We hope you enjoy the visit.

Release Pilot – Virtual Site Tour from Scatec Solar on Vimeo.