By Andy Sambridge
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Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s green energy initiative, and the Seychelles Government announced on Wednesday they will be carrying out a wind resource assessment study for the proposed wind power project on the island of Mahe.
The study comes as part of a collaborative agreement signed by the two parties in January 2009 to develop renewable energy in the Seychelles.
Studies undertaken since the beginning of the year continue to suggest that wind power is potentially viable on Mahe and the decision has been made to move to the next stage of the development process and undertake a detailed wind resource assessment study.
The study is expected to take 12 to 15 months, the company said in a statement.
Four wind measurement masts will be installed as part of the wind resource assessment study to measure, amongst other things, wind speed and direction. The masts will be in operation for a minimum of one year.
The next phase of the project, which will be an investigation into the environmental, technical and commercial feasibility of installing wind energy generators on Mahe, will be launched upon completion of the wind resource assessment should the study determine wind conditions on the island to be suitable for the generation of electricity.
Current expectations are that the masts will be installed by the end of 2009.
Some site preparation work is required prior to the installation of the masts and a tender for this work will be issued shortly, the company added.
Electricity generated from wind would be a material first step towards diversifying the Seychelles electricity supply system away from fossil fuels and in the process help mitigate risks associated with energy supply and climate change, Masdar said.
Masdar City is the first clean-technology cluster located in a carbon-neutral, zero-waste city powered entirely by renewable energy.
The free zone in Abu Dhabi aims to become a global centre for innovation, research, product development and light manufacturing in the fields of renewable energy and sustainable technologies.
