KEY POINTS
- Angola’s solar energy drive added seven new plants.
- Bailundo project supplies power to 373,000 residents.
- Carbon cuts and diesel savings boost sustainability.
Angola’s solar energy program has reached a milestone with the completion of seven photovoltaic plants that collectively underscore the country’s pivot toward renewable power and away from diesel-based generation.
Officials marked the achievement in early September with the inauguration of the Bailundo Photovoltaic Park in Huambo province. The facility completed the 370-megawatt Solar Photovoltaic Project, developed by MCA Group and Sun Africa, and now helps supply renewable electricity to nearly 2.4 million people nationwide.
Solar power expansion drives electrification
The plants do more than deliver electricity. They are expected to cut carbon emissions by one million tonnes a year and reduce diesel use by 1.4 million liters annually. Beyond Bailundo, six additional sites are spread across the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bié, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, and Moxico. These include Biopio at 188 megawatts, Baía Farta at 96 megawatts, Saurimo at 26.1 megawatts, Luena at 26.9 megawatts, Lucapa at 7.2 megawatts, and Cuito at 14.65 megawatts.
Consultant Dar managed design review and construction supervision. The company highlighted Biopio and Baía Farta as Angola’s first utility-scale solar plants, inaugurated in July 2022 with 770,400 solar panels and complete civil and electrical works. The expansion has since accelerated. Saurimo began operating in April 2024, supplying power to about 171,000 people. Cuito launched in August, followed by Luena and Lucapa, with each addition helping to stabilize electricity supply across diverse regions.
Bailundo plant strengthens solar energy drive
For Bailundo’s 373,000 residents, the new facility represents a turning point. Blackouts and unreliable service have long disrupted daily life. MCA, the developer, said the project improves production, distribution, and overall grid stability.
Nationally, Angola’s electricity access rate reached 51.1 percent in 2023, up from the previous year. The government has set a target of 60 percent electrification by 2025. With the current pipeline of solar projects, officials say Angola is positioned to extend power to millions more households while cementing its role in Africa’s renewable energy transition.
