In addition to supplying the factory, the project challenges include the ability to feed surplus power into the local electricity grid, which will help stabilise the power supply in the Freetown port area.
HIMOINSA has developed a project to supply power to a production plant in the Port of Freetown, in the West African region, an area of great strategic importance due to its commercial logistics. As the port is a key component in the distribution of flour and other products throughout its area of influence, an uninterrupted power supply is essential for the continuous operation of the production plant.
The project is focused on the flour production sector, where a continuous supply of power is required to run the plant. In addition, the surplus power produced by the generator sets will be fed into the port's electricity grid to help stabilise the supply.
The customer requires a power solution thar can meet the demand for 8.5 MW of power to supply the flour production plant. In addition, the ability to transfer surplus power to the local electricity grid is required to help stabilise the power supply in the Freetown port area, which has historically experienced frequent power outages. In this way, the customer's expectations were to secure the power supply to the factory, minimising outages in the local grid and maximising revenue by feeding the surplus back into the grid.
The port of Freetown has very specific space constraints, which posed a challenge for the installation of the equipment. In order to guarantee the required fuel autonomy without compromising the available space, special tanks had to be designed for the project.
In this regard, HIMOINSA's teams worked in coordination with local teams and operators, whose careful planning and execution ensured that the systems were correctly connected to the existing power grid and that everything worked without interruption.
HIMOINSA has designed and installed an 8.5 MW power plant consisting of a series of high-efficiency diesel generator sets designed to power both the production plant and the grid simultaneously. The solution includes:
With advanced synchronisation technology to ensure stable power distribution.
Installed in 20-foot containers with volcanic wool insulation to reduce sound emissions, ensuring quiet operation in a seaside environment
To operate at high temperatures and with different fuel types, adapting to local conditions.
In addition, 0.4/11 kV outdoor transformers have been included in the project to allow for proper voltage conversion and connection to the grid. Also included were DEIF control panels for parallel operation of the generators and their synchronisation with the grid, ensuring the stability and efficient distribution of the power supply.
The benefits of the proposed solution include greater operational efficiency to reduce costs and improve profitability, as well as contributing to the stability of the electricity supply, with the capacity to feed both the plant and the grid, resulting in the generation of additional revenue by feeding surplus power back into the grid.
The project has been carried out in a marine environment with a high salt concentration, so it was essential to ensure that the generator sets and equipment were sufficiently resistant to corrosion and the extreme conditions of the region's tropical climate. To achieve this, special protection systems have been incorporated to ensure optimal operation of the equipment despite its proximity to the sea.
The solution implemented by HIMOINSA to supply 8.5 MW of power to the aforementioned production plant in Sierra Leone has not only improved the power efficiency of the flour plant, but has also provided added value to the customer by allowing surplus power to be fed back into the local electricity grid.
This project has not only stabilised the power supply in the port of Freetown, but has also opened the door to economic opportunities through the sale of power. The power solution installed and designed by HIMOINSA has had a positive impact both at the operational level of the factory and in the local community, contributing to sustainability and energy efficiency in Sierra Leone.
