Twelve remote villages in the Suriname forest now enjoy continuous power thanks to a new microgrid initiative. Once complete, the Suriname Village PV Microgrid Project will consist of five microgrids with a total generation capacity of 5,314 MWh, serving 34 villages.
POWERCHINA Advances Green Energy with PV Microgrid Project
In 2019, POWERCHINA initiated the first phase of the Suriname village PV microgrid project. This phase involved designing, procuring, and constructing a system with 650 kilowatts of photovoltaic power and 2.6 MWh of energy storage, using China’s green and low-carbon technologies to meet the off-grid power needs of remote communities.
Solar panels bring continuous power to remote villages in the Suriname forest, transforming energy access and sustainability.
A microgrid is a compact power generation and distribution network composed of distributed energy sources, energy storage, conversion devices, and monitoring systems. This self-contained grid can operate independently, with the flexibility to purchase power from the main grid or sell its excess power back.
This makes microgrid construction both cost-effective and adaptable, enabling communities to consume renewable energy generated locally. As green energy usage expands, microgrids are expected to play a crucial role in enhancing living standards and advancing modernization in these areas.
First Microgrid Handover in Suriname Photovoltaic Project
This microgrid is the first to be completed in the second phase of the Suriname Village Microgrid Photovoltaic Project.
Suriname is a small, ethnically diverse country on the Atlantic coast of South America, just north of Brazil, and is one of the world’s leading producers of bauxite.
While much of the country’s population has reliable electricity, thousands of people living in Suriname’s remote forest regions—far from the national grid—have access to power for only a few hours each day. The Suriname Village PV Microgrid Project aims to close this gap by delivering continuous 24-hour power to these communities.
Phase Two: Microgrids to Power 34 Villages with 5,314 MWh Capacity
In the second phase of the project, POWERCHINA will construct five more microgrids to deliver continuous power to 34 forest villages along the Suriname River.
During the handover ceremony, President Chandrikapersad Santokhi of the Republic of Suriname praised POWERCHINA for overcoming challenges in the project’s construction. “The microgrids will provide a more stable and reliable power supply to the villages, significantly enhancing the quality of life for residents and fostering local economic development,” he said.
The first site in phase two was recently completed and now supplies power to over 1,500 residents across 12 villages. This PV microgrid uses a hybrid energy setup, combining solar, energy storage, and diesel generation to ensure a consistent supply.
POWERCHINA: Leading Global Solar Power Developer
Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA) is a leading construction group with expertise across investment, financing, planning, design, engineering, equipment manufacturing, and operations management. Ranked 105th on the Fortune 500 in 2023, POWERCHINA is a key player in China’s solar power industry.
The company’s expertise in industrial management, planning, design, EPC contracting, investment, and maintenance has driven the growth of solar energy in China. To date, POWERCHINA has implemented solar projects in approximately 30 countries, reaching a total installed capacity of around 9 GW.
