Power Africa has officially welcomed Sun Africa as its newest private-sector partner in a significant step towards enhancing access to reliable electricity across sub-Saharan Africa.
The partnership was formalized on August 6, 2024, during a signing event at Sun Africa’s office in Miami, Florida.
Power Africa Coordinator Richard Nelson and Sun Africa CEO Adam Cortese signed a non-binding collaborative agreement, marking a major milestone in the initiative’s mission to add 30,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation capacity and create 60 million new connections by 2030.
Sun Africa’s involvement in the initiative includes plans to contribute up to 6,500 MW of new energy generation, potentially bringing electricity to over eight million households and businesses. To support these projects, the company aims to secure around $10 billion in financing.
One of the key projects under this partnership is a two-phase initiative in Angola. The first phase, supported by a $900 million U.S. EXIM Bank loan, will deliver approximately 500 MW of utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) energy and battery storage.
The second phase, backed by a $1.2 billion U.S. EXIM Bank loan, will provide an additional 287 MW through 65 mini-grids, solar cabins, home solar kits, and solar-powered water purification systems.
This ambitious project is co-financed by Power Africa’s development partner, the Republic of Korea, and aims to boost U.S. exports of solar panel mounting systems, connectors, switches, sensors, and other critical equipment.
Sun Africa CEO Adam Cortese expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “By leveraging Power Africa’s extensive network and Sun Africa’s expertise in utility-scale solar energy projects, this partnership will accelerate renewable energy adoption in Africa and significantly close the energy gap in the regions we serve.”
Power Africa Coordinator Richard Nelson praised Sun Africa’s commitment, noting, “This partnership represents a significant milestone in Africa’s journey toward universal energy access. We look forward to working with Sun Africa and its network of U.S. suppliers to demonstrate the potential of large-scale solar projects in Africa’s energy future.”
