Gabon has opened its first utility-scale solar plant – the largest in Central Africa. Developer Solen SA Gabon has said it aims to expand the Ayémé project’s capacity to 30 MW to power more than 300,000 homes. Contact online >>
Gabon has opened its first utility-scale solar plant – the largest in Central Africa. Developer Solen SA Gabon has said it aims to expand the Ayémé project’s capacity to 30 MW to power more than 300,000 homes.
Gabon has inaugurated its first utility-scale solar project. The Ayémé PV plant is located in the Plaine-Ayeme area of northwestern Gabon, around 30 km from the country''s capital, Libreville.
Solen SA Gabon, a subsidiary of Solen Renewable Dubai, built and operates the project, with an initial capacity of 11 MW, according to local media outlet L''Union.
The plant, announced in 2021, faced delays and reductions in funding after construction began in August 2022. Initially planned as a 120 MW project split into two 60 MW phases, it was scaled back during development.
At the inauguration, President Brice Oligui Nguema highlighted the project as a symbol of the nation''s commitment to sustainable development and climate action.
"It is indeed an important milestone in the production and distribution of clean, sustainable and modern electricity, thus illustrating our country''s commitment to improving access to energy and the fight against climate change,” he said.
Gabon''s electricity mix currently relies on hydropower (47.7%), natural gas (35%), oil (16.9%), and biofuels (0.3%), according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
The country reported just 1 MW of installed solar capacity at the end of 2022, unchanged since 2021, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
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Once completed, the renewable energy facility will supply power to the country''s national grid which is managed by the state water and power utility, Societe d''energie et de l''eau du Gabon (SEEG).
The solar energy plant is expected to mitigate roughly 59,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions a year, and help improve energy access in the Central African nation.
The planned construction of the solar energy plant in Gabon by Total Eren, a subsidiary of French oil company Total Energies, comes at a time another French company ENGIE announced the construction of 8 hybrid solar power plants in the country.
The government of Gabon has indicated plans to diversify the technologies in the country''s energy generation mix. The 50MW solar energy plant will help Gabon achieve its energy objectives and help the country reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
The Central African country currently has a total installed power generation capacity of 750 MW, of which more than half comes from thermal fossil fuels, according to data by the International Energy Agency (IEA) from November 2020.
Around 44% of the country''s total renewable energy capacity comes from hydropower which is sometimes susceptible to climate change disruptions, resulting in inconsistent supply of electricity.
Gabon''s electrification rate in rural areas is substantially lower, at 63%. The Central African country plans to provide electricity for 85% of rural regions by 2025. The solar energy plant will help Gabon provide power to its underserved regions.
Solen SA Gabon, a subsidiary of Solen Renewable Dubai, built and operates the project, with an initial capacity of 11 MW, according to local media outlet L'Union.
The company reportedly said it aims to expand the facility to 30 MW under a power purchase agreement (PPA) with state utility Société d'Energie et d'Eau du Gabon (SEEG). The project is expected to power 300,000 homes and create 150 direct jobs.
At the inauguration, President Brice Oligui Nguema highlighted the project as a symbol of the nation's commitment to sustainable development and climate action.
“It is indeed an important milestone in the production and distribution of clean, sustainable and modern electricity, thus illustrating our country's commitment to improving access to energy and the fight against climate change,” he said.
Gabon’s electricity mix currently relies on hydropower (47.7%), natural gas (35%), oil (16.9%), and biofuels (0.3%), according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
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