CrossBoundary Energy Commissions 233MW Solar-Plus-Storage Baseload Project for Kamoa Copper Mine in DRC

CrossBoundary Energy (CBE) has commissioned a 233 MWp solar photovoltaic and 526 MWh battery energy storage facility for Kamoa Copper S.A. at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mining Complex near Kolwezi, Lualaba Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with AIKO supplying its high-efficiency ABC solar modules. 

The project is Africa’s first industrial-scale power facility designed to provide continuous, 24-hour baseload electricity solely through a solar-plus-battery energy storage system. It uses AIKO’s high-efficiency ABC solar modules and serves the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mining Complex, operated by Kamoa Copper SA in Lualaba Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Situated near Kolwezi, the solar and battery energy storage facility is also the first renewable energy project in an African mining region to integrate solar generation and energy storage for uninterrupted power supply. By combining high-efficiency photovoltaic generation with large-scale battery storage, the facility reduces reliance on diesel-fired generation. The project progressed rapidly, taking just 16 months from the signing of the power purchase agreement in April 2025 to grid connection in Q2 of 2026.

AIKO’s ABC modules (model AIKO-A655-GRH66Dw) achieve 24.2% efficiency and 655 Wp output—delivering 30 W more power than leading TOPCon modules of the same size. Specifically designed for the demanding conditions of African mining sites, the ABC technology features a lower temperature coefficient and effective hot-spot suppression, ensuring reliable performance even in the most extreme operating environments. The 360,000 modules are projected to produce approximately 300 GWh of electricity each year, equating to a total of 7.8 TWh over a 30-year lifespan, while preventing roughly 78,750 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. Backed by a 15-year product warranty and a 30-year power warranty, AIKO supplies consistent, cost-effective renewable energy to the mining operation without interruption.