Gabon inaugurates its first photovoltaic (PV) plant with 30 MW

Gabon has inaugurated its first photovoltaic plant, the largest in Central Africa. Developer Solen SA Gabon has said it aims to expand the capacity of the Ayémé project to 30 MW to supply more than 300,000 homes.
Gabon has inaugurated its first photovoltaic project. The Ayémé photovoltaic plant is located in the Plaine-Ayeme area in northwestern Gabon, about 30 km from the country’s capital Libreville.

Solen SA Gabon, a subsidiary of Solen Renewable Dubai, built and operates the project, with an initial capacity of 11 MW, according to local media outlet L’Union.

The company has reportedly said it aims to expand the facility to 30 MW under a power purchase agreement (PPA) with state-owned utility Société d’Energie et d’Eau du Gabon (SEEG). The project is expected to supply 300,000 households and create 150 direct jobs.

The plant, announced in 2021, faced delays and funding reductions after construction began in August 2022. Initially planned as a 120 MW project split into two 60 MW phases, it was scaled back during development.

At the inauguration, President Brice Oligui Nguema highlighted the project as a symbol of the nation’s commitment to sustainable development and climate action.

“It is indeed an important milestone in the production and distribution of clean, sustainable and modern electricity, thus illustrating our country’s commitment to improving access to energy and combating climate change,” he said.

Gabon’s electricity matrix is ??currently based on hydropower (47.7%), natural gas (35%), oil (16.9%) and biofuels (0.3%), according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The country reported only 1 MW of installed solar capacity at the end of 2022, unchanged from 2021, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Patrick Jowett, pv-magazine.com