Electricity production from solar parks in Mozambique grew by 28.9% from January to September, but still only accounts for 0.5% of the total, according to official data consulted on Tuesday by Lusa.
According to the budget execution report with data up to the end of September, electricity production in the country’s five large solar parks, and by other smaller plants, exceeded 71,264 MegaWatt-hours (MWh) in this period, compared to 55,301 MWh in the first nine months of 2023.
Despite the growth in production, solar parks accounted for only 0.5% of Mozambique’s total production in nine months, led by hydroelectric plants, with 84.5%, and essentially the Cahora-Bassa Hydroelectric Plant (82.3% of total electricity production until September).
Mozambique plans to move ahead with solar power stations in at least five parts of the country by 2030, with an estimated capacity of 1,000 MW of electricity production, promising a ‘true solar revolution’.
“Accelerating these types of projects to a larger scale is the simplest way to solve the country’s strategic dilemma after 2030: having to choose between green energy for export or supplying energy to industrial consumers,” according to the Energy Transition Strategy (ETS), Lusa reported in February.
Last year Mozambique had projects for 125 MW of solar power plants, with 80 MW already connected to the grid.
The new strategy, which envisages investments of around US$80 billion (€76.2 billion) by 2050, foresees Mozambique developing, in a first phase, by 2030, ‘at least’ 1,000 MW of new solar photovoltaic capacity in Dondo, Lichinga, Manje, Cuamba, Zitundo and other sites ‘to be identified’, and 200 to 500 MW of new onshore wind power capacity, namely in Inhambane, Lagoa Pathi.
“Large industrial investors who need large amounts of green electricity should be encouraged, through a favourable business and regulatory environment, to develop large-scale solar and wind energy projects,” the document adds.
By 2050, the aim is to have at least 7.5 GW of solar photovoltaic capacity installed in Mozambique and up to 2.5 GW of wind power capacity.
“To ensure price optimisation and accelerate the expansion of solar and wind capacity, the government should build on the Renewable Energy Auction Programme in Mozambique,” whose principles introduced “competition in the awarding of renewable energy contracts,” the document states.
“The rapid growth of solar expansion in South Africa following the introduction of auctions is a regional example to follow,” highlights the ETS, which also emphasises “long-term” initiatives.
“Continue to gradually develop the latest solar and wind generation potential to meet the growing demand for electricity. A real ‘solar revolution’ will be needed to meet Mozambique’s growing consumption in a clean way,” the document states.
Source: Lusa
