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Everyone needs electricity and heat – but how to best organise transmission, distribution and storage? Go ahead and learn about the most intelligent designs and solutions!
Energy efficiency is key, both for the current building stock and for everything to be built from now on. Find out more about how the building stock can be made fit for future energy savings!
In tomorrow’s energy world, industries, commerce and agriculture use only a fraction of the energy they use today – with no negative effects on output.
Electromobility and new, alternative fuels are about to fundamentally change the transport sector. Find out more about the characteristics and prospects of these technologies!
In order to achieve an integrated energy system, power, heat and mobility need to be combined in a way that is both intelligent and sustainable. Take a look at relevant approaches in this field!
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Solar power for remote industry: How a palm oil mill in Madagascar cut costs, fuel use and emissions
Introduction
Savonnerie Tropicale, Huilerie de Melville, a palm oil producer whose plantation and factory are located at Madagascar's east coast, 25 km from the city of Toamasina, the island's economic capital, faced increasing challenges due to its off-grid location. With no access to the national electricity grid, the factory relied entirely on its own diesel generators to meet its energy needs. As fuel costs continued to rise and supply chains became less predictable, the company struggled with high operating expenses and unreliable power supply.
"Operating on diesel alone was becoming unsustainable – not just in terms of cost, but also due to frequent supply interruptions. We needed a long-term solution we could rely on," explained Danick Ramaroson, Operations Director at Savonnerie Tropicale.
Motivated by the need for a more sustainable, cost-effective, and stable energy source, the mill began searching for alternatives. Certified under the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Certification system, their commitment to sustainable farming made solar energy a natural step toward cutting emissions and shrinking their ecological footprint.
German Technology Powers a Hybrid Solution
To address these challenges, German technology provider Tysilio developed a customized hybrid solar power system for the site. The hybrid solution was designed to complement existing diesel generators and significantly reduce fuel consumption.
The setup includes an 82 kWp ground-mounted solar PV array coupled with a 100 kVA / 150 kWh battery storage system. The integrated energy management system ensures smooth coordination between power generation, storage, and consumption—optimizing performance around the clock.
This solution will be part of a 2-phase schedule: the solar power plant currently installed will enable a permanent measurement of the load curve which will be analyzed after 12 months to allow optimized sizing in the future in phase 2.
As Xavier Juin von Juterzenka, Business development director at Tysilio GmbH, highlights: “The system was specifically designed to meet a significant portion of the site's energy demand while preparing for Phase 2 of the project based on reliable, continuous data collection. The solution was also adapted to the operating conditions of this energy-isolated industrial site to reduce reliance on diesel. Their involvement ensured that the system was not only technically sound, but also adapted to the specific needs of industrial operations in rural Madagascar.”
Practical Benefits: Reliability, Savings, and Autonomy
By investing in this hybrid solution, the oil mill has strengthened the reliability of its power supply – an essential requirement for running machinery and maintaining production timelines. At the same time, the shift to solar energy has opened the potential for long-term savings on fuel and maintenance costs.
Danick Ramaroson adds: "We're already seeing a noticeable reduction in our fuel expenses. More importantly, the energy system gives us the stability we need to plan our operations with confidence." Operating largely on self-generated power also reduces exposure to fuel price volatility and delivery uncertainties—offering greater energy autonomy in an off-grid environment, proving especially valuable in isolated regions like rural Madagascar.
Support by the German Energy Solutions Initiative
The Project Development Programme (PDP), implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Energy Solutions Initiative, supported the project from an early stage. It began with the German Training Week – Private Sector Development (PD) in Antananarivo in 2019, in which Savonnerie Tropicale actively participated.
From the initial idea to project development, PDP accompanied the off taker throughout the process. This included evaluating the company’s energy needs, analysing local conditions, and identifying technically and commercially viable solutions. PDP also connected the company with qualified solution providers based in Germany, ensuring that the system met high performance standards and was tailored to local needs.
Hariniaina Andrianomanana Rakotoson, Country Representative of PDP emphasizes: "This project shows how German companies can offer robust, tailored solutions for industrial clients in remote locations. Our role was to lay the groundwork and ensure a good match between need and technology."
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