Meridiam, Hydrogène de France (HDF) and SARA (Groupe Rubis) have commenced the construction of the West Guiana Power Plant PPP project in French Guiana.
Located in the commune of Mana, the project will store 128MWh of intermittent renewable energy using hydrogen. The plant is designed to produce 100% renewable electricity from the combination of a photovoltaic park, a long-term and robust energy storage in the form of hydrogen with a short-term storage by batteries. The total investment in the project is EUR170 million (US$197.42 million).
Once operational in April 2024, the power plant will provide a year-round supply for the equivalent of 10,000 homes in Western Guyana, offsetting 39,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year. The electricity will be injected into the Guyanese electricity grid and its production will be governed by a 25-year capacity contract with EDF. McPhy and HDF will supply the electrolyzers and fuel cells, while Siemens will be the manufacturer and operator of the plant.