Leading French renewable energy independent power producer (IPP), Total Eren, and Angolan renewable energy company, GreenTech will collaborate to build a 35 MWp solar farm. The two firms signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Angolan Ministry of Energy and Water (MINEA) on the 30th of November 2020.
The solar power facility will be located in Lubango, Huila province capital. It will be developed, financed, built, and operated by Total Eren (75%) and GreenTech (25%). An option for Sonangol, the public Angolan oil and gas company, to join the project is currently under discussion.
“We are thrilled to be part of the development of the renewable energy sector in Angola, where we will be able to leverage the established track record, expertise and historical presence of our shareholder Total S.A. Following a detailed feasibility study in close collaboration with Angolan authorities and key stakeholders over the past months, this MoU marks an important and concrete milestone for the implementation of the project. We are now looking forward to the next steps of the project’s development,” stated Fabienne Demol, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Business Development of Total Eren.
Solar farm pioneers Angola’s energy transition
Angola is looking to reduce its dependence on fossil fuel energy, the oil rich country set a target to have 800 MW of installed capacity in the country come from renewable energy sources by 2025. Once commissioned, the solar farm will provide competitive power supply to the Angolan network and enable significant fuel savings compared to the existing thermal power plants.
“This project will provide clean and affordable electricity for the local population of Huila province while bringing immediate economic benefits to the State of Angola. We are looking forward to working hand in hand with the technical teams of MINEA, the National Transport Network (RTN), the Public Electricity Production Enterprise (PRODEL) and the Regulatory Institute for Water and Electricity Services (IRSEA), which will be decisive to master the challenges that arise from the implementation of one of the first utility-scale solar PV project financed and operated by independent partners in Angola,” said Jorge Salvador, Executive and Co-Founder of GreenTech.
