Image: Pvproductions via Freepik
Italian oil supermajor, Eni has announced that a final investment decision (FID) has been reached by it’s joint venture Solenova and Sonangol for the development of the 50 MW Caraculo solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in the Namibe Province of Angola.
The project will be implemented in phases, with Solenova having also signed the engineering, procurement and construction contract for the first phase, which will involve the installation of 25 MWp of solar panels near Caraculo – a town in southwestern Angola known for its high solar potential – and is expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2022.
“The Caraculo PV plant will be an important source of electricity in the Namibe province, from a renewable resource, and will allow the reduction of diesel consumption for electricity generation, thus reducing the emission of greenhouse gases and contributing to Angola’s energy transition,” Eni said in its statement on December 6.
With a total capacity of 50 MWp, the solar PV plant is expected to become a major source of renewable electricity and will serve to reduce the energy deficit between the industrialized north of Angola and the south of the country. Additionally, the project will contribute to local sustainable development, improving access to energy, water, and education while stimulating the country’s energy transition.
Solenova was formed in June 2019 with the aim of supporting utility-scale solar projects in Angola, establishing a target of 800 MW of installed renewable capacity by 2025.
