Angola’s President João Lourenço inaugurated the Luau Photovoltaic Park on Monday, marking the commissioning of a significant off-grid solar installation with 31.85 MW of generation capacity and 75.26 MWh of battery energy storage. The facility will supply clean electricity to more than 90,000 people while eliminating the need for diesel generation in the remote border town.
Built at a cost exceeding €87 million, the facility includes 54,912 solar panels and is projected to save around 18 million litres of fuel annually. The project represents a complete replacement of diesel generation with solar power and battery storage in Luau, located on Angola’s border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Energy and Water Minister João Baptista Borges described the project as “structural, modern and transformative” within Angola’s National Electrification Strategy. “This project represents far more than the installation of solar panels; it represents progress, inclusion, sustainable development and hope,” he said during the inauguration ceremony, according to official statements.
The project was developed by Portuguese renewable energy company MCA Group. Company Chairman Manuel Couto Alves said the project “represents a commitment to communities that, for decades, have lived without access to energy,” adding that “energy transforms lives, creates opportunities and strengthens territories.”
The Luau installation follows MCA’s earlier Cazombo solar park, also in Angola, which came online in late 2023 with 25.3 megawatts of solar capacity and 59.46 megawatt-hours of storage capacity.
The project’s financing structure demonstrates international cooperation in African energy development. Standard Chartered Bank structured financing for Angola’s Ministry of Finance, with backing from German Export Credit Agency Euler Hermes and guarantees from Portuguese and Korean export agencies.
“We are thrilled to complete the financing of this important project for the Angolan government to supply renewable energy-sourced electricity to local communities,” said Yoshi Ichikawa, Head of Structured Export Finance for Europe at Standard Chartered Bank, in a company statement regarding the project completion.
The installation occupies a strategic location along the Lobito Corridor, a railway and logistics infrastructure project connecting the Port of Lobito on Angola’s Atlantic coast to neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. Government officials have described the solar facility as “a key element for the Lobito Corridor” development strategy.
The project created over 200 jobs during construction and is expected to deliver substantial environmental benefits. By replacing diesel generators that previously powered the community, the facility will avoid thousands of tonnes of CO2 emissions annually - a significant reduction given the scale of diesel displacement for 90,000 residents.
The Luau installation forms part of Angola’s broader Rural Electrification Project, which aims to implement 46 autonomous minigrids powered by solar installations. The initiative targets over one million people across 60 communes by 2027, with the overall electrification project benefiting approximately 203,000 households across the provinces of Moxico, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Bié, and Malanje.
The European Union has recognized the electrification program under its Global Gateway strategy, which channels European investment into energy, digital, and infrastructure projects in partner countries. The initiative demonstrates how international financing mechanisms can support large-scale renewable energy deployment in emerging African markets.
Angola has been expanding its solar capacity as part of broader energy diversification efforts beyond its traditional oil-dependent economy. The country has added significant solar capacity in recent years, with multiple utility-scale installations coming online across various provinces.
The success of off-grid solar installations like Luau addresses a critical challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, where millions of people in remote communities lack access to reliable electricity. By combining solar generation with substantial battery storage, such projects can provide 24-hour electricity access without connection to national grid infrastructure.
The project’s technical specifications - featuring nearly 32 MW of generation capacity paired with over 75 MWh of storage - represent a significant scale for off-grid installations in the region. The substantial battery capacity ensures continuous power supply during nighttime hours and periods of reduced solar irradiance.
For Portuguese developer MCA Group, the Luau project reinforces its position in African renewable energy markets. The company operates renewable energy projects across multiple countries in Europe, Africa, and Latin America, employing hundreds of workers across its international operations.
The Luau solar park’s inauguration comes as African governments increasingly prioritize renewable energy development to address electricity access gaps while meeting climate commitments. Such projects demonstrate the viability of large-scale off-grid solar solutions for powering isolated communities across the continent.
The facility’s location in Angola’s eastern Moxico province, near major transport corridors connecting to neighboring countries, positions it as both a community energy solution and a strategic infrastructure asset supporting regional economic development initiatives.