Countries

The first in-person meeting between the National Renewable Energy Associations of the Portuguese-speaking African countries took place in Cape Verde on 31st October 2024.

In September, ALER established a new partnership with GET.transform, with the aim of fostering the promotion of decentralized renewable energies in Mozambique.

One of southern Africa's largest energy producers, Mozambique, is facing an energy crisis. Despite efforts to expand access to electricity, which is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, almost 70% of Mozambicans still live without access to modern energy services.

The 1st edition of the Job and Industry Fair: The Future of Renewable Energies in Mozambique, organized by AMER in partnership with IICM, exceeded expectations and revealed an increase in attention to renewable energies.

The “Early Bird” phase of RENMOZ 2024 continues until 31st August. This is an unmissable opportunity for partners and sponsors to guarantee their participation in the event. Organized by ALER and AMER, RENMOZ 2024 returns to Maputo on 27th and 28th November, with the support of GET.invest Mozambique.

In March, ALER signed a contract with the African Development Bank (AfDB)/Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to implement the Africa Mini-Grid Market Acceleration Programme (AMAP) in four Portuguese-speaking African countries, namely Mozambique, Angola, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau.

During the opening ceremony of APUA's 58th Annual Meeting, EDM's Chairman of the Board of Directors, Marcelino Gildo Alberto, defended investment in electricity infrastructures, especially the interconnection of Power Transmission Lines between neighboring countries, as well as the commitment to the Energy Transition, as answers to leveraging energy supply levels for the industrialization and modernization of the African continent.

The latest editions of ALER's Market Sheets, now known as ALER Market Outlook, were launched on 27th and 28th May,during the ALER Market Outlook 2024 event. To provide a brief overview of the renewable energy sector in Portuguese-speaking African countries, the ALER Market Outlook condenses all the privileged information that ALER has access to, highlighting the most recent and relevant data for each country.

The Government of São Tomé and Príncipe, which holds the Presidency of the CPLP, together with the Energy Thematic Committee of the CPLP Consultative Observers, coordinated by ALER and RELOP, and with the institutional support of the CPLP, will promote an Energy and Climate Seminars Series to discuss the contribution of climate finance mechanisms to accelerating the energy transition in the CPLP Member States.

On 4th June, ALER and GreenVenture hosted the webinar “Energizing Africa: How EU Financing is Changing the Renewable Landscape?”. The recording of the webinar and the speakers' presentations are now available online on the event page.

GLOBELEQ, one of the largest investors in the energy production sector in Mozambique, guarantees that, in partnership with the government, it will start building the Namaacha Wind Power Plant in the second half of this year. This will be the first grid-scale wind farm in the country to produce 120MW. 

The long-awaited 4th edition of the Business Conference - Renewables in Mozambique (RENMOZ 2024) will take place on 27th and 28th November 2024.

EDP - Energias de Portugal S.A., of which EDP Renováveis (an ALER Member) is a subsidiary, has just launched the 6th edition of the Access to Energy Fund (A2E CSR Fund), through which it selects and finances the best projects for access to renewable energy in communities in African countries. The application period runs until 29th May 2024.

ALER will be present at the 10th Mozambique Mining and Energy Conference and Exhibition (MMEC 2024), to be held on 2nd and 3rd May 2024 in Maputo. This edition, in which ALER is a Partner Association, is organized by AME Trade, in collaboration with ENH, and with the support of MIREME.

Following the announcement that RENMOZ will return to Maputo for its 4th edition, ALER and AMER are now announcing the opening of the "Early Bird" phase for the conference sponsors. This phase runs until 30th June 2024.

Let's imagine an off-grid village in northern Mozambique: Maria, like many other members of her community, some also displaced by the conflicts that have been ravaging the country, faces daily challenges due to the lack of access to electricity, despite the country's abundant energy resources.

The 4th Business Conference - Renewables in Mozambique (RENMOZ 2024) returns to Maputo on 27 and 28 November 2024. Organized by ALER and the Mozambican Renewable Energy Association (AMER), the event aims to promote the renewable energy sector and disseminate crucial data for its development in Mozambique.

Following the success of the 3rd edition of the Business Conference - Renewables in Mozambique (RENMOZ 2023) in November last year, ALER and the Mozambican Renewable Energy Association (AMER) are now publishing the RENMOZ 2023 Thematic Booklet. The document has the support of GET.invest Mozambique, funded by the European Union and Germany, and part of the European GET.invest program.

On 26th March, ALER and the Mozambican Renewable Energy Association (AMER) returned to the Working Group on Mini-Grids.

The National Energy Fund (FUNAE) has revealed that it is investing in the construction of 19 electricity generation mini-grids with a capacity of between 100 and 200MW to improve supply coverage, especially in remote areas.

On 14th March, ALER took part in different events in the sector: the 5th Anniversary Conference of the Fund for Sustainable Access to Renewable Energies (FASER) in Maputo; the virtual meeting of the Africa-Europe Foundation Strategy Group on Energy; and the Digital with Purpose Movement (DwP) workshop in Lisbon.

Organized by GET.transform, in collaboration with GET.invest and in partnership with ALER and AMER, "Scaling Distributed Generation in Mozambique" took place in Maputo on 29th February.

The Integrated Electrification Planning and Coordination Unit (UIPCE) was created by the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy in May 2023 to ensure the government's commitment to provide access to "Energy for All" by 2030.

In this new meeting, the Working Group will present a detailed legal analysis and a roadmap with the necessary procedures for developing mini-grid projects and solar home systems in Mozambique. 

The Mozambican government will "boost solar and wind energy" through a renewable energy auction program and advance the construction of "green industrial parks and corridors enabled by clean, reliable and affordable energy".

On 26th and 27th February 2024, project manager Rita Marouço attended to the 1st Bi-Annual Off-Grid Energy Forum, representing ALER. The event, which took place in Maputo, aimed to promote sustainable energy solutions in Mozambique.

The United Nations has declared 26th January 2024 the first International Day of Clean Energy and ALER marked the date with the release of the latest data on the incorporation of clean energy in Portuguese-speaking countries.

The Report of the 3rd edition of the Business Conference - Renewables in Mozambique (RenMoz 2023) is now available online. According to the document, the event established itself as the biggest conference in the renewable energy sector in Mozambique.

The latest legislation applicable to the energy sector is now available online at LERenováveis.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global renewable electricity capacity increased by 50% between 2022 and 2023, and the next five years will see the fastest growth ever. However, the lack of funding for emerging and developing economies is a problem.

The article "Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Disasters in Mozambique: The Role of Solar Energy and Access to Off-Grid Energy", published in December 2023 by AMER and GOGLA, is now available on the LERenováveis platform.

The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) took place between 30 November and 12 December, providing important debates and negotiations. Several co-operation agreements were signed during the COP, reflecting the global commitment to tackling climate challenges.

In the last two months of the year, the Government of Mozambique moved forward with the publication of two important documents that contribute, on a large scale, to the renewable energy sector in the country.

Hidroléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) signed on October 16th a Cooperation Agreement for the development of a solar photovoltaic generation power plant of up to 400MW.

Novare, an investment solutions company, announced in August a new project to install photovoltaic panels for the Novare Matola Mall commercial area in Mozambique, which will serve as a complement to the supply of energy through the electricity grid.

The first solar power plant with an energy storage system in Mozambique was officially inaugurated on 14 September. Located in the province of Cuamba, Niassa district, the Tetereane Power Plant combines a photovoltaic solar energy capacity of 19 MWp with energy storage in 7 MWh batteries.

On September 18, the European Commission announced the creation of the Global Gateway Business Advisory Council, with the participation of two ALER members, EDP - Energias de Portugal and Cândido José Rodrigues II Renewables.

ALER's Executive Director, Isabel Cancela de Abreu, was a guest speaker on the second day of the "Mozambique Gas & Energy Summit", appearing on the same panel as Marcelina Mataveia, National Director of Energy at the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy (MIREME), who was honoured at the ceremony as "Energy Woman of the Year".

On September 18th, the Energy Regulation Authority (ARENE) released the list of companies shortlisted for the tender to select two energy producers for the development of two solar photovoltaic projects with a capacity of 30 MWac each.

"On the 22nd and 23rd November 2023, the first edition of the Mozambique – EU Global Gateway Investment Forum, under the theme “Creating business opportunities”, will explore ways to attract quality investments within the framework of the Global Gateway."

ALER's President, Mayra Pereira, writes in a column for the Mozambican newspaper "Diário Económico" about the importance of energy access in Lusophone African countries, emphasising the need for cooperation and the exchange of knowledge in the energy sector, so that each country can find its own sustainable solutions and achieve the desired energy transition.

Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM), an ALER member company, and Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB), the company that operates the Mphanda Nkuwa Hydropower Project, have signed an agreement to provide financing of more than 3 million dollars (2.8 million euros).

The European Union Delegation has launched a survey among the European private sector in Mozambique, to map the presence of European companies and their contributions to the Mozambican economy.

The new National Strategy for 2023-2028 signed between the AfDB and the Government of Mozambique sets out strategies to increase the electrification network in the country's homes and businesses.

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa reopened, on June 22nd, the call for proposals to encourage clean energy-based mini-grid solutions in Mozambique. Funding can be used for the deployment and operation of energy services through mini-grids.

May was marked by the latest developments at the Lauca Hydroelectric Power Station in Angola and the Mphanda Nkuwa Hydroelectric Power Station in Mozambique. The hydroelectric plant in Angola was inaugurated by MINEA, and the hydroelectric plant in Mozambique was handed over to a consortium led by EDF.

The Graça Machel Fund, in partnership with Sasol-Mozambique and FDC, launched the Women in Energy Conference Series whose first edition is already scheduled for March 2024. This initiative aims to promote the development of a more inclusive energy sector.

ARENE has developed a platform for processing and register Digital Certificates for Energy Service Operators. The platform is already available online.

Under A2E Fund, EDP - Energias de Portugal, an ALER member, provides one million euros to finance projects that contribute to combat poverty and energy exclusion in Africa. Organisations can apply until May 22nd.

"Lusophone Compact (LC) operates as a framework, a gateway that is always open, for private companies to submit their projects. (...) The Compact creates a privileged space for the development of renewable energy by the private sector in the PALOP."

During the month of March ALER was present at EAIF 2023 which took place in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Rita Marouço, ALER's Project Manager, was an invited speaker at the panel "Private-public dialogue on renewable electrification & investment Opportunities in Southern Africa" which took place on March 23rd.

Through this financial facility, the Cooperative will install an irrigation system powered by two SF2 solar pumps to irrigate an area of four hectares of vegetables near the Nhandzihe River, located in the North of Zavala District in Mozambique.

This workshop was promoted by GET. Transform with the aim to increase the knowledge of stakeholders in the Mozambican energy sector regarding distributed generation and highlight its potential in the energy sector.

In February, Belgium presented a new cooperation programme for Mozambique worth 25 MEUR. Norway and Sweden signed agreements with the World Bank to support phase II of the "Energy for All" programme worth 30 MEUR.

The 4th edition of the Conference will take place from 26 to 28 April at the University of Fine Arts in Palma de Mallorca, Spain and has the representation of several participants from Mozambique and Portugal.

The objective of the study is to establish a document that will guide decision-making in the implementation of power plant projects using renewable energy in the national electricity grid.

The 2022 World Bank Report charts the evolution of energy indicators by country and concludes that sub-Saharan Africa scored highly on electricity access policy.

"Mozambique shows its commitment with the mitigation actions against climate change, leaving a clear command so that the conduction of all and any reform and implementation of projects at the energy sector level, take into consideration the need to enhance the use of renewable energies."

"The purpose of the dedicated funding for Mozambique is to allow the private sector to contribute to rural development through electrification. The Country Window should allow us to finance up to 10 projects dedicated to accelerating access to clean energy, in a sustainable and inclusive way."

The launch of the ElectriFI Country Window for Mozambique, an impact investment facility, funded by the European Union, took place at the Business Conference Renewables in Mozambique.

The Government of Mozambique, through FUNAE, an ALER member, inaugurated two photovoltaic power plants built in Tete province. The two powerplants were estimated at more than 160 million meticais.

Financing of one million euros, under the fourth edition of Access to Energy Fund, reinforces EDP's social impact strategy in emerging economies and its focus on ensuring a fair energy transition. The projects now selected will benefit close to one million people in four African countries.

Belgium will provide 25 million euros to Mozambique for the development of renewable energy projects, over a period of five years. Additionally, they announced an additional contribution of one million euros for new drinking water installations in Mozambique.

"At the end of 2021, the Government of Mozambique estimated that by 2030 around 40% of all new energy connections would be through off-grid technologies, such as domestic solar systems and mini-grids, and this year by 2022, around 25% of these additional connections were reached by business initiatives supported by the BRILHO program."

The Government of Mozambique, represented by ARENE and within the scope of the PROLER Program, launched a tender for the selection of an Independent Power Producer for 30 MWac Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants.

During the months of November and December, ALER will organize three events in Mozambique, take advantage of the sponsorship opportunities that we have available to give greater visibility to your company, business or project.

"But there are still many challenges, particularly those linked to the competitiveness of the local industry, which is negatively impacted, among others, by the cost of raw materials, capital and energy."

The African Development Bank (AfDB), through the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), approved the granting of USD 2.5 million financing to the Mozambican government for the development of renewable energy.

"We reinforced the activities for which we are already known, positioning ourselves as an active and relevant player in the debate on the energy sector in the Portuguese-speaking countries, a networking facilitator to national/regional/international level and a source of privileged and up-to-date information, developing renewable energies growth in these countries."

The AfDB and the Portuguese Government signed a guarantee agreement to be granted to the African Development Bank under the Lusophone Compact, in which Portugal will provide guarantees of up to 400 million euros exclusively for projects financed by the AfDB and approved under this agreement.

Isabel Cancela de Abreu, ALER’s Executive Director, gave an interview to Público newspaper in which she explained that African countries “are energy islands, they do not have the interconnections that exist in Europe and, deep down, they are used to fending for themselves”.

From the financing and investment projects of GET.invest, BRILHO and UNIDO, opportunities arise for the development and integration of clean energy access systems in small rural areas of Mozambique.

ALER is looking for a Financial and Administrative Manager to take up their duties as soon as possible, preferably in the first half of October.

The training session aimed to present the tariff calculation tool for mini-grid projects, a resource developed by ARENE with the support of GET. transform.

Banco BCI, through the project “Towards Sustainable For All in Mozambique”, developed a credit line with the aim of promoting the dissemination of integrated renewable energy systems for productive uses in rural areas in Mozambique.

New IRENA report, published on July 13th, shows that almost two-thirds of renewable power added in 2021 had lower costs than the cheapest coal-fired options in G20 countries.

The "Microgrid Global Innovation Forum" takes place from September 13th to 15th in London. Use the ALER discount code and enjoy a 20% discount on registration.

In June, ALER was present at the Africa Energy Forum 2022 that took place in Brussels, Belgium, as well as at the Energy Access Investment Forum 2022 event that took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

REN21's 2022 Global Status of Renewable Energy Report states that the global transition to clean energy is not happening. “There was record growth in renewable energy, but the world missed the historic chance to recover clean energy,” the report says.

Mozambique's new Electricity Law was published in the Boletim da República on July 11th and is now available for consultation.

During the Forum held from 16 to 19 May in Kigali, Rwanda, initiatives amounting to more than US$347 million were presented to support energy access and transition.

Renewable energies are "a fundamental foundation for security and overall improvements in growth and living standards", says David Malpass, President of the World Bank

ALER promoted an Angola-Mozambique institutional exchange action in the field of renewable energies in Maputo from 24 to 28 May.

ALER organized the 4th Edition of ALER Open Day, which followed the ALER General Assembly, in which the Members elected the new members of the governing structure for the 3rd term of the Association.

"The government is pursuing ambitious energy policy goals such as electricity access for the entire population by 2030, and a freshly passed new electricity law provides an improved legal framework for Independent Power Producers (IPP) and renewable power generation."

Until May 23rd, registration is open for the Online Workshop Training for Trainers: Training Program on Sustainable Energy Solutions for Islands.

This type of initiatives is extremely relevant for carrying out a real diagnosis of the impact of renewable energies, in order to define policies and monitor their development. 

On May 24th, ALER will hold the ALER Open Day, an opportunity to exchange contacts, share and disseminate privileged information with our partners and other members.

ALER's Member, TOTAL EREN SA, won the tender for the development of the Dondo power plant project, in Sofala Province, launched under the Renewable Energy Auction Program (PROLER).

Renewable energy continued to expand steadily and well above the long-term trend, with share in total capacity expansion reaching new record of 81% last year.

EDP  started the 4th edition of the A2E CSR Fund in which it will support projects in Angola, Mozambique and, also, in Nigeria, Malawi and Rwanda.

The largest solar power plant in Mozambique was inaugurated on April 1st, in Metoro in the province of Cabo Delgado. This project is the result of a partnership between ALER's two members, EDM and Neoen.

Isabel Cancela de Abreu, ALER'S Executive Director, participated in the morning program “Bem vindos” of RTP Africa, in which she reinforced the urgency of the development of renewable energies.

This Wednesday, March 30th, the Electricity Law in Mozambique was approved by the National Assembly, a document that aims to adapt the legal framework to the challenges of universal access to energy.

BRILHO announced, in February, the launch of the 2nd Call for applications to the "Market Development Fund" program.

"The Regulation establishes a set of principles and standards that point very clearly to the solutions that the Government has decided to adopt (...)"

ALER's associated Mozambique Electricity, has launched a tender for feasibility studies for the floating solar power plant in the Chicamba Hydropower plant, in Mozambique

The analysis will be discussed with the Members of both Associations at a meeting on February 10th at 9am PT, 11am Moçambique

EDM is committed to reach the Universal Energy Access for all Mozambicans by the year 2030

Source Energia and Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM), have reached financial close on the 19MWp (15MWac) Cuamba Solar PV plant with a 2MW (7MWh) energy storage system

This regulation is the result of the Government’s efforts to recognise the importance of the sector to catalyse rural socio-economic development, leveraging private sector investment and improving the living conditions of millions of people

Happy holidays and a great 2022 is what we hope for ALER and for all of you!

SNV, within the BRILHO Energy Africa Mozambique programme's scope, held the "Accelerating Access to Off-Grid Renewable Energy" event on November 26th which celebrated the programme's progress

ALER, in partnership with AMER and with the support of GET.invest Mozambique, will organize a webinar on  February 24th for the presentation and discussion of the impacts of this long-awaited document in particular in the mini-grid and solar home systems market segments.

This assembly was unanimously approved, the 2019 and 2020 accounts report, the plan of activities for the year 2022, the strategic plan 2021-2023, the communication strategy and also the electoral regulation for the future elections of the members of the AMER Board in 2022.

ALER celebrates two years of collaboration with GET.invest to promote renewable energies in Mozambique

Green People's Energy for Africa, Energising Development (EnDev) and Energypedia have launched the Mozambique Off-grid Knowledge Hub.

 AMER - Mozambican Renewable Energy Association has launched a Statement for COP26 in which they present their vision of the goals regarding energy from renewable resources in Mozambique

ALER's Executive Director, Isabel Cancela de Abreu participated as speaker in the 2nd session of the RELOP 2021's II Cycle of Debates, under the topic “Impact of climate change on the hydrocarbons sector”.

ALER will get back to physical events! See you in a month in Maputo to discuss C&I market potential in Mozambique and engage with all national stakeholders. Stay tuned for more info! 

SNV launched, through the BRILHO programme, the extension of the first Call for a specific project for mini-grids

See the September Editorial of AMER, written by the Executive Director of ALER, Isabel Cancela de Abreu

Absa Bank Mozambique considers Renewable Energy to be a priority and has therefore qualified as a dedicated team, focused on creating a portfolio specialising in this sector and infrastructure, with the aim also of supporting the country in this transition and universal access to energy by 2030.

FUNAE, the Mozambican Energy Fund, has in its hands the project of the Majaua hydroelectric small hydro power plant and the mini-networks in Matchedje.

Several sustainable and clean energy projects, including two in Mozambique and one in Angola, will receive a total funding of half a million euros through the A2E Fund.

AMER - ALER’s Member and Partner - recently implemented a study on the Impact of Covid-19 on the Renewable Energy sector.

AMER and UNIDO held a workshop which had as main objective to deepen the knowledge about the recent launch of the Credit Line BCI SUPER, to support the agriculture sector with renewable energy solutions.

The European programme GET.invest and the GIZ Cluster “Financial Systems Development” have joined hands with financiers in Mozambique to increase investments in decentralised renewable energy projects.

The USAID Southern Africa Energy Program (SAEP), a Power Africa initiative, is releasing an updated “Route-to-Market (RTM) Database and Supporting Documentation” as part of its efforts to support the off-grid sector in Mozambique to scale up and increase electricity access in the country.

In a significant step toward a clean energy future, Globeleq and its project partners, Source Energia and Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM), both ALER’s Members, have celebrated the start of construction of the 19MWp (15MWac) Cuamba Solar PV plant and a 2 MW (7MWh) energy storage system with a ground-breaking event.

ALER, in partnership with AMER are participating on the review of the Electricity Law in Mozambique. Find out more about the Working Group that met to compile comments and submit to the ESWG.

ALER and AMER - Mozambican Renewable Energy Association, formalized in May the signing of a Partnership Protocol.

AMER and ALER have been working together and have achieved numerous accomplishments over the years. This partnership has indeed been beneficial for both associations and our Members. 

ALER and AMER, in cooperation with GET.invest Mozambique - funded by the European Union and Germany, and part of the European programme GET.invest, presented the Briefing and animations: Renewables in Mozambique 2021. Now we want to know your opinion!