- SOLEN has reached financial close on a €28 million financing package for the Plaine Ayeme solar-plus-storage project in Gabon.
- The development will deliver 30 MW of solar capacity with battery storage in its first phase, marking Gabon’s first large-scale hybrid renewable power project.
The financial close of the Plaine Ayeme solar-plus-storage project marks a structural milestone for Gabon’s electricity sector. SOLEN SA secured a €28 million ($33.1 million) financing package to develop the first phase of the project near Libreville.
The funding was arranged through a partnership between the AFRIGREEN Debt Impact Fund and BGFIBank. The loan package, denominated in euros and CFA francs, will finance a 30-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant paired with an 8 MWh battery energy storage system located roughly 30 kilometres from the capital.
Developers designed the hybrid configuration to stabilise the national grid and optimise solar generation. Gabon’s electricity system has historically depended on conventional baseload power. The project also introduces a dispatchable renewable energy model that integrates solar generation with battery storage.
SOLEN SA, owned by the Dubai-based Equitane Group, leads the development. In addition, the project operates under a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Gabonese state. As a result, the agreement provides long-term revenue certainty and strengthens the framework for independent power production in the national electricity market.
The Plaine Ayeme project will be delivered in two phases. Once fully completed, it will produce 60 MW of solar power and provide 30 MWh of battery storage capacity. SOLEN will oversee the full project lifecycle, including development, engineering, construction and operations.
Energy analysts consider the development strategically important for Gabon’s evolving power mix. The country relies heavily on thermal and hydropower generation, which exposes supply to fuel volatility and seasonal hydrological risks. Consequently, solar-plus-storage projects provide a pathway to diversify the system and enhance reliability.
Legal advisory firm De Gaulle Fleurance, which advised the lenders, noted that the project represents a key step toward expanding renewable energy in Gabon. By combining solar generation with battery storage, the facility can supply electricity during peak demand periods while strengthening grid resilience.
The project will also support the growing electricity needs of the Libreville metropolitan area. Urban expansion and economic growth have increased demand across the capital’s power network, making new generation capacity essential for maintaining system reliability.
Beyond its technical impact, the successful financial close highlights rising investor confidence in Gabon’s renewable energy sector. It also demonstrates how blended finance structures can unlock capital for early-stage clean energy infrastructure across emerging African markets.