GITAZA - BURUNDI

GITAZA - BURUNDI

Project Date
11/11/2020 - 23/07/2021

Type of plant
SYSTEM INTEGRATOR Mini-grid

Client
ICU – Istituto per la Cooperazione Universitaria

 

Group 50Peak Power

54 kWp

Group 49Users

122

Group 48Storage Capacity

94 kWh

 

The installation of a 54 kWp photovoltaic mini-grid system with 94kWh of storage for the electrification of the market in Gitaza, Burundi, was carried out by ESI SpA on an EPC basis on behalf of ICU - Istituto per la Cooperazione Universitaria - an Italian non-governmental organisation that implements development cooperation projects in southern countries.

Thanks to the electricity produced by our photovoltaic system, new business activities have sprung up within the community to the benefit of the population, who can now benefit from cinemas and refrigerators for food and sanitary use, as well as mills for milling cassava. 

This is the first installation of its kind in Burundi, the poorest country in the world, and is distinguished by the environmental sustainability of the technologies used and the approach to community development in both economic and social terms.

The project is based on high-quality components, a storage system based on new-generation high-performance batteries with Sodium-Nickel technology and inverters designed and assembled in Italy to meet the energy requirements of the Gitaza market.

The plant is also fully remotely controllable, both in terms of the production and storage system and the management of the end-user meters.

For the electrification of the Gitaza market, carried out in collaboration with ICU and financed by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), Esi Spa was awarded the Impresa Ambiente Prize in February 2022 in the category 'Best International Cooperation for Sustainable Development'. Click here for more details.

The 'Premio Impresa Ambiente' is Italy's highest award for companies, public and private entities that have made an innovative contribution to processes, systems, partnerships, technologies and products with a view to sustainable development, environmental respect and social responsibility.