Eritrea to build 30MW solar PV plant after securing funds from AfDB

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
The project will be located in Dekemhare, a town 40km southeast of Eritrea’s capital Asmara. Image: The African Development Bank

Eritrea has secured about US$50 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to construct a 30MW solar PV project, hoping to increase the reliability of electricity supply and the share of renewable energy in its energy mix.

The fund will finance the construction of a 30MW solar PV power plant near Dekemhare, a town 40km southeast of Eritrea’s capital Asmara, in addition to a battery backup system. After completion, the power plant is expected to increase generation capacity and grid energy to 185MW and 365GWh per year, respectively.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The project consists of the power generation phase, including the design, construction, supply and installation of a 30MW grid-connected solar PV power plant, a 15MW battery energy storage system, a substation and a transmission line.

The second phase of the project is about technical assistance and capacity building, including capacity building for the electricity company and Eritrea’s Ministry of Environment, particularly in PV technologies and battery energy storage systems, dispatch management and commissioning of electrical equipment.

Part of the fund will be allocated to technical assistance and capacity building to improve the operational performance of the grid.

According to the African Development Bank, the project could increase the share of renewable energy in the Eritrean grid energy mix from 3% to 23%.

Currently, Eritrea’s available capacity is 35MW, while its peak demand could reach as high as 70MW based on the African Development Bank’s statistics. In its 2018 National Energy Policy, Eritrea aims to increase the electrification rate across the country and supply 20% of electric power demand through renewable energy sources by 2030.

Recently, the International Renewable Energy Agency said investments in new renewables should also be channelled to more countries, as 85% of global renewable energy investment benefited less than half of the world’s population, while Africa accounted for only 1% of additional capacity in 2022.

Read Next

September 15, 2025
Sunrun has priced a securitisation of leases and power purchase agreements, taking its non-recourse debt capital raised in Q3 above US$1.5 billion. 
September 15, 2025
Norwegian energy firm Statkraft has agreed to divest a portion of its renewable energy portfolio to Serentica Renewables.
September 15, 2025
UNSW spin-out company Lab360 Solar has been awarded funding from ARENA to bring its drone-based PV inspection technology to market.
September 15, 2025
Vikram Solar has secured a contract to supply 200MW of modules to AB Energia, a domestic solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) solutions provider. 
September 12, 2025
Colombian energy supplier Celsia is seeking more than US$1.2 billion in investment to build wind and solar generation projects in Peru. 
September 12, 2025
ACME Venus Urja has secured INR3.8 billion (US$43 million) to develop and construct a solar-plus-storage project in Barmer, Rajasthan.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines