Detailed Feasibility Study of an Energy Efficiency Project at the Polyclinique Saint Joseph

The social and economic development of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) member states is hindered by a growing energy crisis that results in limited access to modern, affordable and reliable energy services. Moreover, the energy bill of enterprises represents a significant portion of production costs, which cripples business development and endangers their going concern. Energy efficiency helps lower the energy bills of businesses and increases the available energy on the grid for other users.   In October 2014, The Agence Française de Développement (AFD), in partnership with the European Union (EU) and the Fonds français pour l’environnement mondial (FFEM), established a sustainable energy promotion facility called SUNREF West Africa for enterprises and individuals in West Africa.   Pursuant to a prefeasibility study carried out with the technical assistance of SUNREF, the Polyclinique Internationale Saint Joseph de Lomé used an initial list of priority projects that could benefit from the technical support of the SUNREF West Africa program with the aim of obtaining financing from the credit line. Hence, a detailed feasibility study was conducted to improve energy efficiency and reduce electricity consumption at two sites, the Polyclinique and its plant that produces solutes, by installing efficient lighting and air conditioning, as well as small solar photovoltaic units.

The mandate granted to Econoler consisted of proposing viable technical solutions for the energy efficiency and renewable energy measures selected during the prefeasibility study, as well as quantify the energy, environmental and financial benefits of the project to thereby properly guide the investment decisions of both the project owner and the partner bank. The main tasks carried out during the detailed study included:

• Collect and process data;
• Study efficient conditioning at the Polyclinique;
• Study the feasibility of installing a solar photovoltaic system at the Polyclinique and plant sites;
• Study the impacts of an efficient lighting measure at the Polyclinique and the plant;
• Study the impacts of a solar pumping measure at the plant;
• Study the feasibility of an efficient-lighting measure, notably installing solar streetlights, for the external perimeter and fencing of the plant;
• Analyze the profitability of the measures proposed.

  In conclusion, the results of the detailed feasibility study presented in a final report allowed managers at the Polyclinique to finalize financing negotiations with SUNREF partner banks or the implementation of the recommended energy efficiency and renewable energy measures.