The photovoltaic power plant starts operating to ensure “green” electricity and supply energy to more than 170,000 families, saving over 19 million liters of fuel. The Ministry of Energy and Water (MINEA) will inaugurate, João Baptista Borges tomorrow, April 2, 2024, the Saurimo Photovoltaic Park in Lunda Sul. With an installed capacity of 26.13 megawatts (MW), this park will produce “green” electricity for 171,565 people.
The objective of the Government of Angola, according to the “Energy Angola 2025” plan, is to diversify the country’s energy matrix, reaching about 60% of the rural population with access to electricity. Valued at 38.8 million euros, the project includes 44,850 solar panels and will generate more than 49,000 MWh/year. To distribute this energy, a 15 kV medium voltage line will be built to connect the solar park to the switching station, prepared for future connections with the Tchicumina, Nhama, and the Hidrochicapa interconnection line switching stations. This solution will result in savings of over 19 million liters of fuel per year and prevent emissions of more than 68 thousand tons of CO2 annually. The Saurimo Photovoltaic Park is part of a set of seven parks, with a total capacity of 370 MWp, located in the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bié, Lunda-Norte (in Lucapa), and Moxico (in Luena), which are expected to be operational by the end of this year.
In total, the seven solar parks were developed by an international consortium composed of the companies Sun Africa and MCA, with the latter responsible for engineering and construction, providing renewable and clean electricity to about 2.4 million Angolans and contributing to an annual reduction of approximately one million tons of CO2.
These solar parks also eliminate the need to consume about 1.4 million liters of diesel in generators and thermal production, which are highly polluting, resulting in significant savings in fuel import costs. João Baptista Borges João Baptista Borges
