Cape Verde Renewable Energy Atlas

CONTEXT

Cape Verde energy sector is strongly characterized by consumption of fossil fuels (derived oil-primary imported oil), biomass (wood) and use of renewable energy particularly wind and solar power.

Yet, introduction of renewable installed capacity in Cape Verde would not have been possible without the development of the Renewable Energy Atlas of Cape Verde, developed by Gesto Energia.

Due to strong dependence on oil imports for electricity generation in Cape Verde, the Government decided to establish the goal of reaching 50% renewable energy penetration by 2020.

According to the main studies concluded until 2010, the demand for electricity in Cape Verde was expected to double until 2020.

With this in mind, Gesto was commissioned the development of the Renewable Energy Atlas of Cape Verde in order to identify the renewable potential of Cape Verde and identify projects that would meet the government goal of 50% RE penetration.

OBJECTIVES

The overall objective of the “Cape Verde Renewable Energy Atlas” project was to develop the Renewable Energy Atlas of Cape Verde, which includes the identification of all renewable energy sources potential in all islands of the archipelago of Cape.

DESCRIPTION

The project was a huge success and to this day remains one of the most important and influential strategic studies in the energy sector of Cape Verde.

The Renewable Energy Atlas includes the strategic identification of resource potential, location and analysis of the solar, wind, pumped-storage, geothermal and wave resources, and resulted in the identification of 2.600 MW of Renewable Energy potential in Cape Verde, from which Gesto studied more than 650 MW in feasible projects that would have lower production costs that conventional energy generation.

SUMMARY OF SERVICES

• Renewable resources assessment and mapping (hydro, wind, solar, geothermal, waves and biomass/MSW)
• Renewable projects identification
• Grid integration studies of priority projects