The Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant was commissioned in 1966 and had an installed capacity of 64 MW (4 units), but was damaged during the civil war. The Consultant has had the role as Owner’s Engineer for the complete reconstruction, rehabilitation and upgrading project. The plant is now generating clean energy with a significant power output increase to 4×88 MW.
The next possible step is to convert the hydro power plant to a hybrid plant, by installing a solar PV plant with floating and ground-mounted panels, and integrate the operation of the plants.
Scope of work
The Pre-Feasibility study investigate the feasibility of converting the hydropower plant to a hybrid plant by introducing solar PV. The Reconstruction Credit Institute of Germany (KfW) financed the study.
The study proposed that a solar plant with an installed capacity of 35 MW (43.5 MWp) can be combined with the existing hydro plant’s 88 MW. This will introduce a significant portion of solar power into Liberia’s energy mix and onto the grid.
The study also identified preconditions and presented solutions for how to integrate and mitigate the impact of the intermittent solar power source with the operation of the existing low head Francis units.
This included an assessment of
- Solar generation potential
- Recommendations regarding design and size of PV plant
- Potential to shift hydro generation daytime / nighttime
- Annual and monthly hybrid generation
- Daily MW hydro/solar duration curves
- Integration with existing electrical systems
- Integration with existing infrastructure
- Connection to the national grid
- Hybrid Plant Control System Design
- Cost estimates and financial feasibility of the project
Our services
- Assessment of potential sites (floating and land based)
- Solar resource analysis
- Analysis of hybridization potential with the existing HPP
- Grid integration assessment
- Optimization of the hybrid layout and design
- Control System Design
- Yield calculations and cost estimates
- Financial modelling
- Energy sector impact study