The Luau Photovoltaic Park Project has been commissioned in eastern Angola, marking the delivery of the largest off-grid solar park on the African continent within the Lobito Corridor, with an investment exceeding €87 million. The project introduces record-setting solar and battery infrastructure while expanding electricity access to remote communities and reinforcing the corridor’s role as a strategic development axis.
Angola’s President, João Lourenço, inaugurated the facility in Luau, located near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The location places the project at the eastern end of the Lobito Corridor, a transport and logistics route increasingly positioned as a transcontinental link connecting Atlantic ports to Central Africa’s mineral-rich regions.
The commissioning establishes a new continental benchmark for off-grid renewable energy systems. It also reflects growing alignment between energy infrastructure and transport corridors, particularly where grid extension remains economically unviable.
Luau Photovoltaic Park Project sets new off-grid construction benchmark
The Luau Photovoltaic Park Project delivers 31.85 MWp of installed solar capacity and 75.26 MWh of battery storage. Consequently, the hybrid system provides continuous electricity supply without reliance on diesel or other fossil fuels. The facility supplies power to more than 90,000 people in remote communities. In addition, it prevents approximately 47 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, supporting Angola’s broader energy transition objectives.
With its commissioning, the project surpasses the previous record set by the Cazombo solar park. The earlier installation delivered 25.3 MWp of solar capacity and 59.46 MWh of storage, establishing the initial benchmark for off-grid systems in the country. The Luau project incorporates 54,912 photovoltaic modules deployed under a turnkey engineering, procurement, and construction model. Furthermore, construction activities generated more than 200 local jobs, contributing to short-term economic stimulus in the region.
Operationally, the system is expected to reduce fuel consumption by approximately 18 million litres annually. This shift significantly lowers operating costs associated with diesel-based generation in isolated networks.
Luau Photovoltaic Park Project anchors Lobito Corridor infrastructure strategy
The project forms part of Angola’s Rural Electrification Project, a national programme targeting 60 communes through decentralized renewable energy systems. Notably, the Luau installation represents the second off-grid solar park delivered under the initiative, following the Cazombo plant completed in 2025.
The broader programme plans the deployment of 46 autonomous mini-grids powered by solar photovoltaic parks. As a result, it aims to provide electricity access to more than one million people by 2027.
The integration of energy infrastructure into the Lobito Corridor reflects a coordinated development approach. While the corridor primarily supports transport and logistics, energy access remains critical for industrial activity, cross-border trade, and community development along the route.
The initiative also aligns with the European Union Global Gateway strategy, which promotes sustainable and high-quality infrastructure investments across partner regions. Under this framework, projects are expected to meet environmental, social, and governance standards while delivering long-term economic benefits.
Luau Photovoltaic Park Project signals scale-up of off-grid solar construction
The commissioning of the Luau Photovoltaic Park Project highlights the growing role of off-grid solar systems in addressing energy access gaps. By combining solar generation with battery storage, such systems ensure reliability in regions where grid extension remains limited.
Officials involved in the project emphasized that the development extends beyond technical delivery. Reliable electricity access supports essential services, including healthcare and education, while enabling local businesses to operate more efficiently.
The project also demonstrates a scalable model for future deployments. As additional mini-grids come online under the Rural Electrification Project, similar configurations are expected to be replicated across Angola’s underserved regions.
From a construction perspective, the project reinforces the viability of large-scale off-grid infrastructure delivered through integrated EPC contracts. It also highlights the role of international financing structures in supporting capital-intensive renewable energy projects in emerging markets.
Similarly, large-scale solar developments are advancing elsewhere on the continent, reinforcing the shift toward renewable energy infrastructure. In South Africa, Pele Green Energy reaches financial close for 100MW Sonvanger Solar PV Power Plant highlights how utility-scale projects are being structured to support industrial energy demand. The 100 MW Sonvanger Solar PV project, located in the Free State, will supply clean power to mining operations under long-term agreements, demonstrating how private-sector-led solar investments are complementing public electrification programmes.
Project Fact Sheet
Location: Luau, Moxico Province, Angola
Project Value: Over €87 million
Project Type: off-grid solar Photovoltaic Park with battery storage
Installed Capacity: 31.85 MWp
Battery Storage: 75.26 MWh
Solar Panels Installed: 54,912
Electricity Coverage: More than 90,000 people
CO2 Emissions Avoided: Approximately 47 tonnes annually
Fuel Savings: Around 18 million litres per year
Jobs Created: 200+ during construction
Programme: Rural Electrification Project (60 communes)
Wider Rollout: 46 mini-grids targeting over 1 million people
Precedent Project: Cazombo Solar Park (25.3 MWp; 59.46 MWh)
Status: Commissioned (2026)
Project Team
Developer: PRODEL EP (Angola state-owned electricity producer)
EPC Contractor:
- MCA Group
- Engineering, Procurement and Construction: MCA Group (turnkey delivery)
Financier: Standard Chartered Bank
Export Credit Agency: Euler Hermes
Reinsurance Partners: COSEC; K-Sure
Government Stakeholders:
Strategic Framework: European Union Global Gateway
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