Aride Island Goes Green with Solar Power Installation

After years of relying on small backup generators, Aride Island has made a transformative leap towards sustainability by installing a state-of-the-art solar Photo-Voltaic plant.  This milestone project, made possible through generous donations from ICS’s international partners, including the Cadbury Trust, the Bower Trust, and ICS (UK), marks a significant step forward in energy self-sufficiency and the island’s conservation obligations.

Previously dependent on intermittent generator power, the Island Conservation Society (ICS) staff and residents now benefit from 24/7 clean energy. The new solar setup is a 3-phase 42 kWp plant of 99 solar panels, 18 kW of battery inverters, and 92 kWh of lithium-ion battery storage.

Anthony Bentley, Reserve Manager at Aride, highlights the dramatic improvements:
"Our lives have changed dramatically. We used to rely on generators with continuous issues, limited to just 10 hours of power daily—noon to 2 PM and 6 PM to 2 AM. Now, we enjoy full nights of uninterrupted sleep with ceiling fans running, and no one needs to wake up at 2 AM to turn off the generator!"
The benefits extend beyond comfort: fully functioning fridges and freezers ensure that perishable food stays fresh, and chilled drinks are readily available. “The quality of life has improved significantly,” Bentley adds.

The plant supplied and installed over five days by local Seychellois-owned company Energy Solutions Seychelles, promises longevity with solar panels expected to last 25 years, lithium-ion batteries and inverters for up to 15 years. To maximize efficiency, a climate-controlled room now houses the batteries and inverters, ensuring optimal performance through regular maintenance.

The next big sustainability project on Aride is the installation of its first desalination plant. Currently, drinking water is transported from Praslin, but plans are underway to install a desalination plant, providing the island with a self-sufficient, potable water supply.
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This solar initiative is more than a technological upgrade; it embodies Aride Special Reserve’s commitment to environmental stewardship, ensuring that this pristine natural reserve remains a beacon of sustainability for generations to come.