MOZAMBIQUE – Africa-focused independent power company, Globeleq, has announced the commencement of commercial operations at its 19 MWp Cuamba Solar PV Plant in Mozambique.
This installation, featuring a 7MW energy storage capacity, represents the company’s inaugural combined solar and storage venture in the South-Eastern African nation.
This project, constructed with an investment of US$36 million, marks Globeleq’s maiden greenfield endeavor in Mozambique and stands as the country’s foremost combined utility-scale solar and energy storage facility.
The Cuamba project’s financing, amounting to US$19 million in debt funding, was facilitated by The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund, a Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) member.
PIDG’s Viability Gap Funding grant facility contributed US$7 million to support an affordable tariff, essential grid upgrades, and the establishment of an energy storage system for EDM.
BII Plus, the technical assistance facility of British International Investment, offered a US$1 million grant for the battery energy storage system.
During the project’s inauguration, Filipe Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique, expressed, “The Cuamba solar and storage plant will provide greater energy security and stability in this region of Mozambique and marks a turning point for the Cuamba district.
“Globeleq, Source Energia, and EDM have all invested in this project – a public-private partnership demonstrating international investors’ confidence in Mozambique.”
Nyusi further emphasized, “This is the third large-scale solar plant in Mozambique and the second that has had the support of the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Norway, two long-time friend and partner countries.
“We expect to build more renewable projects like this and look forward to initiating the Namaacha project – the first wind project in our country.”
The Cuamba solar power plant, expected to supply electricity to the Mozambican state-owned utility EDM through a 25-year power purchase agreement, is anticipated to power approximately 22,000 Mozambican families and reduce over 172,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions over its operational lifespan.
Furthermore, the project facilitated an upgrade to the existing Cuamba substation, ensuring the seamless integration of variable solar energy into the grid.
Globeleq’s CEO, Mike Scholey, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We are extremely excited to now have Cuamba Solar officially delivering clean power to the Mozambican grid via EDM and supporting both the local economy and the Government’s efforts to build more renewable power.
“We continue to build our business in Mozambique through this project, our purchase of the Mocuba solar PV plant, and our Temane gas-to-power project, currently in construction.”
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