Angola's Luena solar park. (Image source: MCA)

MCA Infrastructures SA, a subsidiary of the Portuguese contractor, M.Couto Alves, S.A. (MCA) Group, has secured additional funding support for the purchase of various mobile construction equipment to continue work on one of its flagship Angolan energy projects

UK Export Finance (UKEF) has agreed to support MCA Infrastructures in respect of its purchase of mobile construction equipment worth £12.5mn (US$16.2mn) via supply and logistics experts, Dints International Ltd.

The equipment list includes items such as excavators, stackers, diggers and generators, as well as cars, trucks, vans and trailers.

MCA Group acts as an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor on multiple projects, including a flagship rural electrification programme in Angola, where the equipment will initially be deployed before being utilised elsewhere in the region.

A loan guarantee issued by UKEF to Apple Bank means that the Portuguese contractor operating in Angola can now access finance to purchase the new equipment through Dints.

Established 18 years ago, Dints is a London-based project integrator bringing together buyers, suppliers, logistics providers and funding partners.

Among the the UK-based suppliers to the project are Energy Group, Yorpower, and transport specialist, Kings Trailers.

“It is an honour to be supporting the energy transition in Angola, which is a new territory for us,” said Stephen Peal, Yorpower’s group managing director.

The rural electrification scheme that the machinery will be deployed on is an integral part of plans to expand energy access across Angola and will ultimately supply sustainable power to more than a million people.

The financing behind the electrification drive is also being supported by lender Standard Chartered Bank and Export Credit Agency Euler Hermes.

In May 2024, MCA announced that around 44,000 solar panels had been put into operation at the Luena Solar Park in Angola to bring clean energy to more than 55,000 people.

Located in Angola’s Moxico province, it marked the fourth solar park out of seven that the Portuguese company is building.

At the time, MCA said that, in conjunction with a new interconnector between a Wartsilla thermal power plant and Luena SE, the new solar park would help to make better use of renewable production and improve the stability of the system, as well as reduce overall fuel consumption.

Working in a consortium with a US company, Sun Africa, on behalf of the Angolan government, MCA’s solar roll-out project will eventually have a total capacity of 370 MW.

Read more:

MCA delivers solar plants in Angola

The Republic of Congo plans to double power generation, prioritising renewable energy and partnerships to boost electricity access. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The Republic of Congo has announced plans to double its power generation capacity to 1,500MW by 2030, prioritising renewable energy projects to expand electricity access and support industrial development

Speaking at the Congo Energy & Investment Forum in Brazzaville, Congolese Minister of Energy and Water, Émile Ouosso, emphasised the initiative’s goal of improving energy access for the country’s six million citizens.

A significant component of this strategy involves partnerships with the World Bank and the Rockefeller Foundation through Mission 300, an initiative launched in April 2024 to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030. The World Bank and the African Development Bank are key financial supporters, aiming to address the continent’s energy deficit.

Ouosso underscored the role of international collaboration, stating, “With the support of international initiatives like Mission 300, we are poised to make significant strides in electrifying our nation and improving the quality of life for our citizens.”

To achieve this, the Republic of Congo is leveraging its domestic renewable energy potential. The country has an estimated 27,000 MW of hydropower capacity, though only 1% has been developed. Several projects focusing on water diversion and storage techniques are being planned to optimize hydropower generation.

“Our most valuable energy resource is water. With proper investments, we can unlock this potential to generate more electricity, foster industrialization and electrify rural communities,” Ouosso stated. He further highlighted that 4,000MW of hydropower potential has been identified in the Brazzaville region, with projects aimed at delivering clean, reliable energy for both residential and industrial use.

Solar energy is also part of the country’s energy diversification strategy. AMEA Power is currently assessing the feasibility of a 5 MW solar farm in the Brazzaville region. Additionally, the government is incorporating natural gas into its energy mix, with Chinese firm Wing Wah developing a 400MW gas-fired power project, 200MW of which will be integrated into the national grid.

“If we modernise our power transmission infrastructure, we can transition away from fuel entirely,” Ouosso concluded.

IRENA’s latest report shows renewables hit 4,448 GW in 2024, but faster expansion is needed to meet the 2030 global target. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has released its Renewable Capacity Statistics 2025 report, revealing a substantial increase in renewable energy capacity in 2024, reaching 4,448 GW

The year saw an additional 585 GW of renewable power, accounting for 92.5% of total capacity expansion—the highest annual growth rate on record at 15.1%.

Despite this milestone, the report highlights that current progress remains insufficient to meet the global target of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030.

To align with this objective, annual renewable expansion must accelerate to 16.6% per year, up from the current pace.

Geographic disparities in renewable energy development remain stark. Asia led global growth, with China alone contributing nearly 64% of the newly installed capacity.

Meeting Paris Agreement goals

By contrast, Central America and the Caribbean accounted for just 3.2%. The G7 nations made up 14.3% of new capacity, while the G20 was responsible for 90.3%.

Solar and wind power continued to dominate the sector, making up 96.6% of all new renewable capacity additions.

Solar energy alone expanded by 32.2%, reaching 1,865 GW, while wind power grew by 11.1%.

The report also notes a decline in non-renewable power generation in some regions, helping to reinforce the shift toward renewables.

However, IRENA stresses that more ambitious action is needed to meet the 2030 targets and the Paris Agreement commitments.

The agency has been advocating for clearer renewable energy targets in the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and is actively working with member states to enhance their implementation strategies, with a focus on the energy sector.

IRENA director-general, Francesco La Camera, said, “The continuous growth of renewables we witness each year is evidence that renewables are economically viable and readily deployable. Each year they keep breaking their own expansion records, but we also face the same challenges of great regional disparities and the ticking clock as the 2030 deadline is imminent.”

“With economic competitiveness and energy security being increasingly a major global concern today, expanding renewable power capacity at speed equals tapping into business opportunities and addressing energy security quickly and sustainably. I call on governments to leverage on the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0) as an opportunity to outline a clear blueprint of their renewable energy ambitions, and on the international community to enhance collaborations in support of the ambitions of Global South’s countries,” he added.

Commenting on the remarkable progress, the United Nations secretary-general, António Guterres, said, “Renewable energy is powering down the fossil fuel age. Record-breaking growth is creating jobs, lowering energy bills and cleaning our air. Renewables renew economies. But the shift to clean energy must be faster and fairer – with all countries given the chance to fully benefit from cheap, clean renewable power.”

Hybrid microgrid powers Orange Mali’s remote telecom tower. (Image source: Orange)

Caterpillar Inc. has announced that Orange Mali, the largest telecommunications operator in West Africa, has successfully demonstrated a hybrid microgrid power system at a mobile tower site in Kéniéba, Mali

This innovative solution significantly lowers the total cost of ownership while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%.

Engineers from Neemba, the local Cat dealer, installed and commissioned the system designed by Caterpillar. It integrates a Cat C2.2 diesel generator set, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, and lithium-ion energy storage to supply up to 6 kW of power. Previously, the site relied solely on a diesel generator.

The system’s modular design allows for future expansion, enabling additional components to be integrated as network demand grows.

“Orange is dedicated to building a more responsible digital world by achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040,” said Mahamadou Keita, project manager for Orange Mali. “The hybrid microgrid system developed by Neemba and Caterpillar exemplifies our collaborations with innovative companies that share our drive for decarbonisation.”

Hybrid power solutions for remote telecom sites

Caterpillar’s hybrid power solution for telecom towers combines solar PV panels with a diesel generator to ensure reliable energy supply. During daylight hours, solar energy powers the site while charging the battery storage system. At night or in overcast conditions, the stored energy provides power, reducing diesel usage and emissions.

The system is managed automatically using an on-site control system, which also enables remote monitoring. This allows real-time access to performance data, facilitates early issue detection, and speeds up troubleshooting. By optimising available renewable resources and ensuring the generator operates at peak efficiency, the hybrid system helps lower operating costs and maximise reliability, making it ideal for off-grid locations.

Over the past decade, Neemba has supplied Orange Mali with more than a thousand Cat generator sets ranging in size from 15 kVA to 1 MVA. The company also maintains power solutions at hundreds of telecom towers through extended service contracts.

“Neemba has supported the transformation of enterprises in West Africa for nearly a century, and this hybrid microgrid demonstration for Orange Mali shows how we can leverage advanced Cat power solutions and our industry expertise to support our customers through the energy transition,” said Sanou Baba Nestor, energy sales manager for Neemba.

Caterpillar’s commitment to energy transition

Caterpillar continues to support customers’ climate-related goals by offering products, technologies, and services designed to enhance energy flexibility, improve efficiency, and lower emissions.

“The energy transition requires resilient solutions that maintain superior power availability and reliability while reducing associated costs for the customer,” said Neil Smith, growth strategy manager for Caterpillar Electric Power. “One size doesn’t fit all, and our collaboration with Neemba and Orange Mali proves how we can combine our deep portfolio with our knowledge of the telecommunications sector to help customers excel in every aspect of performance.”

Caterpillar remains committed to developing innovative power solutions that deliver long-term value, reliability, and sustainability. The company also offers global product support through the Cat dealer network, providing maintenance services and customer value agreements to help optimise the total cost of ownership for its equipment.

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