- Power Africa has partnered with Sun Africa to boost renewable energy across sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to add 30,000 MW of capacity and 60 million new connections by 2030.
- Sun Africa’s upcoming projects include a $900 million solar plant in Angola and additional mini-grids, supported by US and Korean financing, to provide electricity to millions.
Power Africa is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Sun Africa, formalised at a special signing event on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at Sun Africa’s Miami offices. This non-binding collaborative agreement marks a pivotal step in Power Africa’s mission to enhance electricity access throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Power Africa Coordinator Richard Nelson and Sun Africa CEO Adam Cortese attended the signing ceremony. This partnership aims to significantly advance Power Africa’s goals of adding at least 30,000 megawatts (MW) of reliable electricity generation capacity and establishing 60 million new connections by 2030.
Sun Africa has committed to contributing up to 6,500 MW of new energy generation, potentially providing electricity to over eight million households and businesses. The company also targets approximately $10 billion in financing to support these ambitious projects.
One of the major initiatives under this partnership is a two-phase project in Angola. The first phase, supported by a $900 million loan from the US EXIM Bank, will deliver around 500 MW of utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power and battery storage. The second phase, backed by a $1.2 billion US EXIM Bank loan, will add another 287 MW through 65 mini-grids, solar cabins, home solar kits, and solar-powered water purification systems.
This groundbreaking project, co-financed by Power Africa’s development partner, the Republic of Korea, aims to promote exporting US solar panel mounting systems, connectors, switches, sensors, and other essential equipment. The partnership highlights the shared commitment of Sun Africa and Power Africa to advancing sustainable and reliable energy solutions across the continent.
Adam Cortese, CEO of Sun Africa, expressed interest in the partnership, stating, “We are very pleased to increase our engagement with Power Africa. By leveraging Power Africa’s extensive network alongside Sun Africa’s expertise in utility-scale solar energy projects, this newly minted partnership seeks to accelerate the pace of renewable energy adoption in Africa and help close the energy gap in the countries where we operate.”
Richard Nelson, Power Africa Coordinator, congratulated Sun Africa on its commitment and highlighted the deal’s significance. “This partnership represents a significant milestone in Africa’s journey toward universal energy access. We are excited to work with Sun Africa and its network of US component suppliers to develop projects that showcase the effectiveness of large-scale on-grid solar energy in Africa’s future.”
This collaboration promises to make substantial strides in improving energy access and advancing renewable energy solutions across sub-Saharan Africa.