Countries

On 30th October 2024, the 2nd CPLP Energy and Climate Seminar brought together governments and financiers for a debate on climate finance and the energy transition in CPLP member states. 

The Prime Minister, Ulisses Correia e Silva, inaugurated on 12th September the 5MW Photovoltaic Power Station in Santa Maria, on Sal Island, the “largest solar park in Cape Verde in capacity and technology”, built by APP (an ALER member).

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 fund that will speed up the exchange of Cape Verde's debt to Portugal will focus on water, sanitation and energy, and could grow to 140 million euros, said Gilson Pina, National Planning Director of the Cape Verde Ministry of Finance, on 2nd July, on the sidelines of the 1st Energy and Climate Seminar, which took place at the headquarters of the CPLP in Lisbon.

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.

The German-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCILA) wants to strengthen its commitment to the development of the renewable energy sector in Cape Verde through partnerships between German and Cape Verdean companies.

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.

On 5th April, the Cape Verdean government signed a contract with Cabeólica (an ALER Member) for the ‘expansion of the wind farm and energy storage battery’ project, which will double wind energy production in Cape Verde.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Energy, Alexandre Monteiro, believes that, despite successive crises, the country is making steady progress towards decarbonization and is convinced that it will reach the target of 50% renewable energy by 2030.

This increase, according to Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva, will help achieve the government's goal of more than 50% of electricity production from renewable energy by 2030 and close to 100% by 2040.

With an estimated annual production capacity of 11 GWh, the Photovoltaic Solar Park in Santa Maria (Sal Island) is expected to prevent the emission of nine million tonnes of C02 per year and reduce the use of fossil fuels by around 2,500 tonnes/year.

The country has gained two more charging stations for electric vehicles, inaugurated in the municipality of Tarrafal, as part of the Project to Promote Electric Mobility.

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.

Recent developments in the renewable energy sector on the island of Santiago, Cape Verde, reflect remarkable progress towards energy sustainability.

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.

"ACER's main mission (...) is to promote renewable energies and energy efficiency in the country and to actively participate in the ongoing energy transition process. To this end, ACER's main objectives are to be a single voice for the national business community in the sector, in relation to public institutions and national and international organisations in the sector, to promote the development of a harmonious national renewable energy market, the increasingly active participation of the national business community in this market and to be one of the key players in the country's energy transition process."

In October, ALER actively participated in various initiatives in Cape Verde, consolidating partnerships with its members and local partners.

On October 24th, the European Union announced an investment package for Cabo Verde through the Global Gateway strategy. This investment package will be around 246 million euros and aims to support the Government of Cabo Verde in the renewable energy sector, sustainable transport and digital connectivity.

October was the starting month for the Cape Verdean Renewable Energy Association (ACER), founded with the aim of actively participating in the promotion of renewable energies and in the energy transition process of Cape Verde, ACER intends to represent companies in the sector before public and international institutions.

Águas de Ponta Preta (APP), an ALER Member, issued the first green bond on the Cape Verde Stock Exchange (BVC) with 100% proceeds, totalling 500,000 escudos.

"The 8th ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF 2023) is set to take place in Praia, Cabo Verde, on October 12th and 13th, under the theme "Empowering Sustainable Energy in the ECOWAS Region". (...) ESEF 2023 is organized in parallel with the 4th edition of the International Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fair of Cabo Verde.(...) Therefore, I invite all stakeholders, including government entities, financial institutions, professionals from the public and private sectors, and renewable energy enthusiasts, to join ESEF 2023."

In Cape Verde, the electricity generated by Cabeólica's four wind farms, an ALER member, prevented the emission of 47,261 tonnes of CO2 in 2022

In June, ALER's member Águas de Ponta Preta (APP) won three projects that widely contribute to the development of renewable energies in Cape Verde.

The Government of Portugal committed on June 22nd to convert 12 million euros of Cape Verde's debt to Portugal, to support funding and invest in the country's climate transition until 2025.

"Cidade Velha, within the scope of sustainable cities, became, together with Cidade da Praia, the first signatory of the Covenant of Mayors for Sub-Saharan Africa in Cape Verde. Today, it is part of the largest network of cities in the African region, joining 11,000 cities that, on a global scale, are working daily against climate change."

During this visit in Cape Verde, ALER had a meeting with the Minister for Industry, Trade and Energy, Alexandre Monteiro, strengthening the ties between the two institutions.

The Sustainable Energy Access to Manage Water Resources:  Addressing the Energy – Water Nexus in Cabo Verde project,  is looking for project proposals to integrate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency technologies in water production systems.

Electric mobility is already a governmental strategy to achieve energy transition. In May, Minister Alexandre Monteiro guaranteed that "we are creating the conditions for [this] acceleration phase" and APP, an ALER Member, reflects on the needs that arise from this growth.

In April, the Government of Cape Verde approved the Annual Operational Plan 2023 of the Energy Transition Programme and held the International Conference of Partners, April 27thand 28th, in the island of Boa Vista, to present the Strategic Programme for Sustainable Development.

"Effectively, distributed energy generation solutions and, in particular, Microproduction contribute to the empowerment of families, to the increased competitiveness of companies, promote employment and employability and foster social inclusion, equality and gender equity in access to energy."

"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."

The construction and administration of the power plants will be done by June 2025. The project co-financed by the World Bank will total almost 3.5 MW of energy.

The initiative comes under the "Covenant of Mayors for Sub-Saharan Africa" (CoM SSA), funded by the European Union and launched in 2016.

In the week of Women's Day, ALER relaunches a Solidarity Campaign to provide energy to local communities in Sao Tome and Principe, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau by promoting projects authored by women entrepreneurs.

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.

In the month the new state budget for 2023 came into force, which includes benefits for renewable energy, Cape Verde has also established cooperation with Portugal for the protection of the oceans and climate action.

The expansion of the wastewater sanitation system was inaugurated in Santa Maria, Sal island in Cape Verde. This action was promoted in a PPP with the Government, the Sal Municipality and APP - an ALER member.

Ulisses Correia e Silva, Cape Verde Prime Minister, declared that the country aims to anticipate the target of 50% of energy production from renewable energies set for 2030.

"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”.

The Government of Cape Verde signed, on September, a Memorandum of Understanding with Cabeólica, an ALER member, for the expansion project of the Cabeólica wind farm and the installation of energy storage infrastructure, with a estimated budget of 33 million euros.

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.

I realized that in the energy sector women are hardly represented, therefore representation goes to men. We had testimonies from some women who were able to explain how difficult it was for them to integrate in this sector. Often, due to lack of knowledge or motivation, society itself considers that the energy sector is more suitable for men.

Águas de Ponta Preta (APP), ALER’s member, won a tender for the acquisition of electricity for the development of a 5 MW photovoltaic solar plant, on the island of São Vicente, and a 5 MW photovoltaic solar plant, on the island of Sal.

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.

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 Government of Cape Verde announced the public tender for the installation and operation of 40 charging stations for electric vehicles. Randi Graça, Engineer at Águas de Ponta Preta, concludes that probable commercial rates that may apply are not being considered.

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.

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.

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

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.

During the month of April, the Women Sustainable Energy Program ended thematic sessions and began the last phase of the project, dedicated to mentoring sessions.

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.

This project  provides for technical assistance for the Restructuring and Privatization of the Electricity Sector, with the main objective of reducing the tax burden of the energy on the public sector and reduce system losses through better management.

ALER participated on the 3rd edition of FIEREE - International Fair of Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency that took place from March 24th to 26th, at Cidade da Praia in Cape Verde.

In the month that marks World Women's Day, ALER gives voice to 13 inspiring women who fight for gender equality in the energy sector.

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 Nexo Energia-Água project is accepting applications until December 31st for sustainable energy projects for water production in Cape Verde.

On March 10th at 18:30 (GMT) ALER joins HEDEN Lisbon to talk about energy, women and sustainability.

The Fair will take place under the topic “For a Green Economy, Cleaner and Efficient Solutions”, between 24 and 26 March, in Praia, Cape Verde.

The Workshop on Entrepreneurship and Startups in Sustainable Energy will last for two days, and will be dedicated to the planning, management and implementation of projects in Sustainable Energy.

The first two training sessions of the Sustainable Energy Program for Women were dedicated to social media management and personal marketing.

Applications were available until January 31st and 26 were received from Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe.

According to The Minister of Industry, Trade and Energy of Cape Verde, Alexandre Monteiro, Cape Verde's strategy is to increase its resilience in the face of external shocks, by reducing energy dependence on the import of fossil fuels.

UNIDO, ENERGIA and GWNET came together to hold the side-event "Improving gender equality and women's empowerment to accelerate a fair, inclusive and climate-resilient energy transition"

APP-Ambiente, ALER'S associate, is implementing the second expansion of the Santa Maria WWTP in Ilha do Sal

GN-SEC and UNIDO, together with other partners, have developed a free Sustainable Energy Solutions Capacity Building Program for Islands, available online and in Portuguese.

The Energy Information Management System as an energy platform will provide data to support sustainable development strategy formulation, policy making, planning and monitoring of the energy sector.