UAE’s Masdar Helping Angola Become A Renewable Energy Manufacturing Hub

Abu Dhabi’s clean energy powerhouse Masdar has plans to build a 150-megawatt solar power plant in Angola, in an effort to help the southern African nation displace more than 224,000 tonnes of carbon emissions a year, equivalent to removing 50,000 cars.

As part of the concession agreement signed with Angola’s Ministry of Energy and Water, Masdar is planning to build and operate the ground-mounted unit in the country’s Quipungo region. The total cost of the project has not been disclosed.

The solar plant is expected to help Angola provide electricity to 90,000 homes. Speaking on Sunday on the sidelines of the COP28 Summit, Masdar said the project is believed to help boost the local economy by creating 600 jobs during the construction phase.

Africa Can Become A Renewable Energy Powerhouse

At the same time, the unit is also expected to support Angola’s ambition to increase its national electrification rate to about 60% by 2025. Dr Sultan Al Jaber, the COP28 president and chairman of Masdar, believes Africa has what it takes to become a renewable energy powerhouse.

Dr Al Jaber, also the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, said: “The UAE stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends in Africa as we strive to secure a just energy transition at this COP of action.”

Masdar is focusing on developing new renewable projects in Africa and boost energy security on the continent. It remains the largest renewable energy company in Africa. In September, it announced a partnership with Africa50 to scale clean energy projects.

Africa Has Almost Unlimited Potential For Solar Capacity

The company is also an anchor partner of the UAE-led Africa Green Investment Initiative and has committed to mobilise $10 billion in clean energy finance, of which $2 billion will be generated from equity with an additional $8 billion from project finance.

During the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2023 in January, Masdar committed to develop 5 gigawatts of renewable energy projects across Angola, Zambia and Uganda. The new solar power project in the Quipungo region forms part of the wider commitment.

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Africa has almost unlimited potential for solar capacity, at roughly 10 terawatts (TW) of energy. The annual energy consumption of all humans is 17.7 TW. Africa could take advantage of its resources by turning itself into a global renewable energy manufacturing hub.