Safe and clean energy instead of electricity importsWith a constantly increasing demand for electricity, energy coverage is one of the main challenges to be faced by Madagascar. According to the Rural Electrification Agency, there are only four small hydropower plants in Madagascar. The Antsirabé project aims at tapping the hydro power potential of the country while reducing Madagascar's dependence on expensive imported energy sources. The 16.5 MW run-of-river hydropower plant located on the river Ampamehana, in the Antananarivo Province, generates up to 90 GWh green electricity per year. The estimated emission reduction over the project's total life amounts to 441,960 t CO2-equivalents.
This project is one of the first verified climate protection projects in Madagascar and plays an important role as an example for the future development of the electricity production sector in Madagascar.
How hydropower contributes to climate actionHydropower plants use the energy of water to generate electricity. The energy is harnessed by passing water through a turbine. Under the pressure of the water, the turbine turns and transfers this energy to a generator, which converts kinetic energy into electricity. This principle applies to all types of hydroelectric power plants: from small run-of-river power plants to pumped-storage power plants on bodies of water like lakes. In many parts of the world, electricity is still primarily generated from fossil fuels. Clean hydropower can replace some of this emission-intensive energy and thus verifiably save carbon emissions. In most hydropower projects, the electricity is fed into a regional power grid, diversifying the energy supply and improving energy security in areas affected by power shortages and blackouts. Often, these projects also create jobs for the local population. Hydropower projects thus make an important contribution to clean energy supply as well as contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hydopower projects in the ClimatePartner portfolio are registered with international standards.
