Power generation of 1 watt photovoltaic panel in Guinea-Bissau

Table 1: Solar insulation in a horizontal plan in Guinea Bissau With a yearly average of over 5.8 Kwh/m2/day (table 1), GB should be able to take advantage of all solar energy applications.

A Chinese state-owned company has been contracted to build Guinea-Bissau's first large scale photovoltaic project, the Gardete solar power plant. The African Biofuel and Renewable Energy Company (ABREC), which promotes renewables and energy efficiency in several countries, has awarded the contract to China's hydropower entity, Sinohydro.

As of today, the most popular solar application is the rural individual photovoltaic system that has been exploited in Guinea Bissau for the producing electricity to power houses, schools, offices and hospitals or health centers. Solar water pumping is the second most installed solar application in GB (Ex. PRS I and II in Table 2).

The entire solar and hybrid project is being financed by the Government of Guinea-Bissau with a $42.9 million loan from the West African Development Bank (BOAD). This financing was granted as early as 2017. The solar project, for which Sinohydro signed the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract, involves three facilities.

The main techniques used for the production of electricity are dams but there are also other techniques such us: Run-of-the-river hydroelectric, pumped-storage hydroelectricity, Tidal power and wave power1. Guinea Bissau has an important site for the construction of a dam with a good potential for power generation.

Wind energy is extracted from wind speeds by wind turbines. It was first used to produce mechanical power (windmills). Nowadays, it is mainly used for the production of electrical power . Unfortunately, none were counted in Guinea Bissau.