Sustainable Energy Services Afghanistan (SESA)

Panjshir Valley Wind Power Project

The Panjshir Valley is a remote valley, fiercely fought over during the Russian and Taliban periods. The Government of Panjshir has only diesel power to rely on, but the operating cost is prohibitive.

The Valley has workable wind resources, as determined by an earlier resource study conducted by Empower Consultants in 2004. Based on this, the local Government, in conjunction with the provincial reconstruction team, conducted a competitive tender for the construction of the wind farm, with the intention of powering local government offices.

SESA was awarded the contract and proceeded to undertake the complete project Terms of Reference. This involved a 100% turnkey project, with initial activities including the clearance of land mines from the site.

SESA then conducted stakeholder surveys and interviews, engineering surveys and design of the system, and trained and supervised local government staff in the management and maintenance of the system.

Since the project site is above the snow line, SESA needed to manage the logistics of moving all materials through very difficult terrain, installing the turbines onsite without heavy lifting equipment, and successfully commission the system.

The system is currently functioning as designed and without any problems. However, SESA ensures that a permanent service and support facility is in place, ready and accessible.