Globeleq begins construction of 19 MWp Cuamba Solar PV plant and storage project in Tetereane District

Globeleq and its project partners, Source Energia and Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) have started the construction of the 19 MWp (15 MWac) Cuamba Solar PV plant and a 2 MW (7 MWh) energy storage system.

The US$32 million project is located in the Tetereane District of the city of Cuamba, Niassa province, about 550 kms west of the coastal town Nacala. The project is the first IPP in Mozambique to integrate a utility-scale energy storage system and includes an upgrade to the existing Cuamba substation. Electricity will be sold through a 25-year power purchase agreement with EDM.

The project is expected to receive US$19 million of debt funding from The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), a member of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG). Furthermore, the project will receive US$7 million in grant funding from PIDG's Viability Gap Funding (VGF) grant facility and a US$1 million grant from CDC Plus to enable an affordable tariff and the energy storage system.

It is expected the project will need around 100 workers during construction, many of which will be hired from the local community. The Spanish company, TSK, has been appointed as the project EPC contractor. Globeleq will oversee the construction and operations of the power plant, supported by Source Energia.