Countries

The first in-person meeting between the National Renewable Energy Associations of the Portuguese-speaking African countries took place in Cape Verde on 31st October 2024.

Angola's Ministry of Energy and Water anounced the creation of an independent regulator for energy and water services and the possibility of private sector intervention in the country's energy transmission sector.

The Chairman of PRODEL's Board of Directors, Pedro Afonso, said that the thermoelectric power stations remain on standby and are only available to meet possible load compensation in the event of a hydrological deficit. This information was provided by the head of PRODEL during the 1st CPLP Energy and Climate Seminar on 2nd July, in Lisbon.

In March, ALER signed a contract with the African Development Bank (AfDB)/Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to implement the Africa Mini-Grid Market Acceleration Programme (AMAP) in four Portuguese-speaking African countries, namely Mozambique, Angola, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau.

The latest editions of ALER's Market Sheets, now known as ALER Market Outlook, were launched on 27th and 28th May,during the ALER Market Outlook 2024 event. To provide a brief overview of the renewable energy sector in Portuguese-speaking African countries, the ALER Market Outlook condenses all the privileged information that ALER has access to, highlighting the most recent and relevant data for each country.

The Government of São Tomé and Príncipe, which holds the Presidency of the CPLP, together with the Energy Thematic Committee of the CPLP Consultative Observers, coordinated by ALER and RELOP, and with the institutional support of the CPLP, will promote an Energy and Climate Seminars Series to discuss the contribution of climate finance mechanisms to accelerating the energy transition in the CPLP Member States.

On 4th June, ALER and GreenVenture hosted the webinar “Energizing Africa: How EU Financing is Changing the Renewable Landscape?”. The recording of the webinar and the speakers' presentations are now available online on the event page.

The municipality of Luena, in the province of Moxico, has a new solar power plant with an installed capacity of 25.3MW and the capacity to serve more than 171,000 consumers.

At the beginning of April, the Minister of Energy and Water, João Baptista Borges, inaugurated the Saurimo Photovoltaic Plant in Lunda-Sul, a project with an installed capacity of 26.13 MW, enough to benefit more than 170,000 families.

On 4th March, the European Council adopted a decision on the conclusion of the sustainable investment facilitation agreement (SIFA) between the European Union and Angola. This agreement will make it easier to attract and expand investments while integrating environment and labour rights commitments in the EU-Angola relationship.

Angola recently completed the construction of seven photovoltaic power stations, which will add a further 370MW to the public electricity grid and could benefit at least 500,000 inhabitants in rural areas.

The Luachimo Dam in Lunda-Norte province, which previously produced 8.4 megawatts of energy, is technically ready to generate 34 megawatts.

In the latest edition of its Newsletter, the Angolan Renewable Energy Association (ASAER) reviews its activities in the last quarter.

The United Nations has declared 26th January 2024 the first International Day of Clean Energy and ALER marked the date with the release of the latest data on the incorporation of clean energy in Portuguese-speaking countries.

The latest legislation applicable to the energy sector is now available online at LERenováveis.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global renewable electricity capacity increased by 50% between 2022 and 2023, and the next five years will see the fastest growth ever. However, the lack of funding for emerging and developing economies is a problem.

"Renewable Energies are recognized energy sources in the world energy market, due to the increasing improvement of the cost-benefit ratio, the financing that has happened quite frequently, the energy security and incentive policies developed by Governments to attract the private sector."

The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) took place between 30 November and 12 December, providing important debates and negotiations. Several co-operation agreements were signed during the COP, reflecting the global commitment to tackling climate challenges.

On Wednesday, December 13th, ALER Members met in a General Assembly (GA) in Luanda, in the first meeting of its kind to take place in Angolan territory. 

In preparation for the initiatives foreseen in ALER's Activity Plan and Budget for 2024, ALER's Executive Director had a meeting with the Brazilian Ambassador to Angola, Rafael de Mello Vidal.

In an interview with LUSA, Pietro Toigo, the AfDB's representative in Angola, highlighted the financial expansion that has taken place over the last five years to boost investment in the Angolan energy sector.

This October, the Angolan Renewable Energy Association (ASAER) resumed publication of its Bulletin, which is now available for consultation.

Inotec, an ALER member, inaugurated a factory to produce pre-paid meters in the electricity and water segments. This new development contributes to Angola's future through economic growth via industrialisation.

The Africa Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Centre took shape during May and is already led by Jean-Pierre Ndoutoum.

The Namibe province has, since May 30th, one more energy solution, with the launch of the new Caraculo photovoltaic power plant, built in an area of 33 hectares, 60 kilometres from Moçâmedes.

During the month of March ALER was present at EAIF 2023 which took place in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Rita Marouço, ALER's Project Manager, was an invited speaker at the panel "Private-public dialogue on renewable electrification & investment Opportunities in Southern Africa" which took place on March 23rd.

"Lusophone Compact (LC) operates as a framework, a gateway that is always open, for private companies to submit their projects. (...) The Compact creates a privileged space for the development of renewable energy by the private sector in the PALOP."

On March 17th, ASAER held the fourth meeting of the GTER in partnership with ANPG for a joint discussion on the "Contribution of Biofuels in National Energy Diversification" and, consequently, the creation of a strategy for biofuels in Angola.

Angola is now hosting the new headquarters of the Regional Centre for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency in Central Africa, whose aim will be to develop studies on the region's needs.

The 2022 World Bank Report charts the evolution of energy indicators by country and concludes that sub-Saharan Africa scored highly on electricity access policy.

New renewable energy projects in Angola include the construction of Angola's largest solar PV power plant, in Biópio, a project developed the MCA, an ALER member, and plans to build four more PV power plants.

In November, the Africa Mini-Grids Program was launched, a technical assistance program for new development opportunities for energy supply. Angola is one of the countries contemplated by the program.

 The European Commission concluded negotiations with Angola on a Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreement (AFIS) – the first agreement of this type signed by the EU.

Financing of one million euros, under the fourth edition of Access to Energy Fund, reinforces EDP's social impact strategy in emerging economies and its focus on ensuring a fair energy transition. The projects now selected will benefit close to one million people in four African countries.

João Baptista Borges, Minister of Energy and Water of Angola, received a copy of the Renewable Energies - National Report, delivered by the Executive Director of ALER, Isabel Cancela de Abreu.

During the month of October, ASAER published a special edition of the newsletter "Boletim Informativo" and organised the Association's first webinar dedicated to the theme “Environmental and Social Impacts of Renewable Energies in Angola”.

São Tomé and Príncipe and Angola were present at the 5th Assembly of the International Solar Alliance, in New Delhi. The two countries, as ISA members, will have new opportunities in the renewable energy sector.

To reach the goal of 70% of energy obtained from renewable energy sources, by 2025, Angola is looking for alternatives for the decarbonization of its energy matrix. Study indicates that it will be necessary to invest about 23.3 billion dollars.

UNIDO is recruiting a Technical Specialist for the CEREEAC IED  in Luanda, Angola.  The TE will support the CEREEAC IED in the establishment of the centre in its key operational processes.

"We reinforced the activities for which we are already known, positioning ourselves as an active and relevant player in the debate on the energy sector in the Portuguese-speaking countries, a networking facilitator to national/regional/international level and a source of privileged and up-to-date information, developing renewable energies growth in these countries."

Isabel Cancela de Abreu, ALER’s Executive Director, gave an interview to Público newspaper in which she explained that African countries “are energy islands, they do not have the interconnections that exist in Europe and, deep down, they are used to fending for themselves”.

TotalEnergies, subsidiary of Total Eren an ALER's member,  together with Sonagás and Greentech announced on September 22nd the signing of the concession contract for the installation and operation of a photovoltaic solar powerplant “Quilemba” with an installed capacity of 35 megawatts.

The AfDB and the Portuguese Government signed a guarantee agreement to be granted to the African Development Bank under the Lusophone Compact, in which Portugal will provide guarantees of up to 400 million euros exclusively for projects financed by the AfDB and approved under this agreement.

ALER is looking for a Financial and Administrative Manager to take up their duties as soon as possible, preferably in the first half of October.

The "Microgrid Global Innovation Forum" takes place from September 13th to 15th in London. Use the ALER discount code and enjoy a 20% discount on registration.

The two projects of photovoltaic solar energy production are part of the “Energia Angola 2025” plan and have a capacity of 285 megawatts. Both photovoltaic power plants are expected to initially benefit more than two million people.

New IRENA report, published on July 13th, shows that almost two-thirds of renewable power added in 2021 had lower costs than the cheapest coal-fired options in G20 countries.

In June, ALER was present at the Africa Energy Forum 2022 that took place in Brussels, Belgium, as well as at the Energy Access Investment Forum 2022 event that took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

"The population's needs are pressing and grow with the number of inhabitants and, for this reason, the perseverance to improve must always be constant."

The construction of the Cabinda Solar Power Plant and a battery storage system were approved, due to the need for investment to boost the production, transport and distribution of electricity.

REN21's 2022 Global Status of Renewable Energy Report states that the global transition to clean energy is not happening. “There was record growth in renewable energy, but the world missed the historic chance to recover clean energy,” the report says.

The International conference "Renewable Energy in Angola 2022" will provide an overview of Renewable Energies. Angola, by 2025 intends to electrify 50% of the population and that at least 7.5% of the electricity generated in the country comes from renewable energy sources other than large hydro, with a total power of 800 MW planned. 

Renewable energies are "a fundamental foundation for security and overall improvements in growth and living standards", says David Malpass, President of the World Bank

The Government of Angola has approved an agreement for the feasibility studies, worth more than US$1 billion to bring energy to 60 communes and has also signed a contract worth 1,USD 95 billion for the works for the electrification of 26 municipal offices and 56 communes.

During the Forum held from 16 to 19 May in Kigali, Rwanda, initiatives amounting to more than US$347 million were presented to support energy access and transition.

ALER promoted an Angola-Mozambique institutional exchange action in the field of renewable energies in Maputo from 24 to 28 May.

ALER organized the 4th Edition of ALER Open Day, which followed the ALER General Assembly, in which the Members elected the new members of the governing structure for the 3rd term of the Association.

Until May 23rd, registration is open for the Online Workshop Training for Trainers: Training Program on Sustainable Energy Solutions for Islands.

On May 24th, ALER will hold the ALER Open Day, an opportunity to exchange contacts, share and disseminate privileged information with our partners and other members.

Renewable energy continued to expand steadily and well above the long-term trend, with share in total capacity expansion reaching new record of 81% last year.

ALER participated in the second meeting of the Renewable Energy Working Group (REWG), with the co-organization of AFD – French Development Agency and ASAER - Angolan Association of Renewable Energy.

Isabel Cancela de Abreu, ALER'S Executive Director, participated in the morning program “Bem vindos” of RTP Africa, in which she reinforced the urgency of the development of renewable energies.

The MCA Group, an ALER's associate, in partnership with the University of Benguela, established a protocol for paid internships for newly graduated engineers.

GTER - Renewable Energy Working Group, held its first meeting on November 17th, co-organised by the British Embassy and ASAER

The Angolan Association of Renewable Energies, presented on September 30 at the event "ASAER and the promotion of renewable energies in Angola", it launched its 1st Newsletter

ALER's Executive Director, Isabel Cancela de Abreu participated as speaker in the 2nd session of the RELOP 2021's II Cycle of Debates, under the topic “Impact of climate change on the hydrocarbons sector”.

Telectrinf is ALER's most recent Associate.

No âmbito da comemoração do aniversário da Sonangas, subsidiária da Sonango,l responsável por projetos de energias renováveis, a empresa está a organizar uma série de webinars dedicados aos temas mais relevantes do setor energético.

Learn more about the ASAER presentation event and the promotion of renewable energy in Angola that took place on 30 September

On July 8, the first governing bodies of ASAER - Angolan Renewable Energy Association, were elected at a General Assembly held in Luanda.

After a long process carried out by the founding members, which allowed the creation of ASAER with the publication of its statutes on March 5th, 2020, the General Assembly was held last July 8th, where the first governing bodies were elected for the next 3 years.

Several sustainable and clean energy projects, including two in Mozambique and one in Angola, will receive a total funding of half a million euros through the A2E Fund.

In a historic meeting on 3 June 2021, in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, the eleven Ministers of Energy of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) approved a Renewable Energy Roadmap and the creation of the Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for Central Africa (CEREEAC) as a specialised institution. During the meeting, the Ministers accepted the kind offer of Angola to host the centre in Luanda.

ALER announces the publication of the Angola Market Sheet, a summary document that discloses exclusive market data in a simple, fast, and easy way. This service is exclusive to our Members, learn how you can have access!

"New Regulatory Framework for Renewable Energy Projects in Angola" was the theme of the first ALER Talk held on May 27, sponsored by Source Energia, VdA - Vieira de Almeida and IFC - International Finance Corporation. The event had the institutional support of IRSEA - Electricity and Water Services Regulatory Institute.