Madagascar’s Ministry of Water, Energy and Hydrocarbons (MEEH) has released a list of six pre-qualified bidders for the country’s 25MW(AC) Scaling Solar tender, which is the first to include energy storage in its remit.

The following six developers have been declared pre-qualified for the tender:

• Acciona Energía SAU
• Al Nowais Investments LLC / Aldwych Power Holdings Ltd
• Globeleq Africa Holdings Ltd
• GreenYellow SAS / Omnicane Ltd
• Mulilo Group Holdings (Pty) Ltd / Voltalia SA
• Ormat Technologies, Inc.

This is the first Scaling Solar project to be tendered that includes battery storage requirements in addition to PV generation. In January, PV Tech revealed that the World Bank, which oversees the programme, had contracted Italian advisory firm RINA to help structure a new version of the programme that would make energy storage an essential part of the tenders. This scheme, yet to be formerly announced, will be called the Scaling Solar Storage (SSS) programme.

The pre-qualified developers for Madagascar will receive a formal invite to access the project’s data room and to submit their final proposals for the project located near the capital of Antananarivo near the centre of the island. The winner will be selected based on the lowest proposed tariff.

The Madagascar tender represents the fourth Scaling Solar tender in Africa to date. Other Scaling Solar tenders are also underway in Senegal and Ethiopia, with a second round also underway in Zambia.