The financial close of the Plaine Ayeme solar-plus-storage project represents a significant structural development in Gabon’s power sector, signalling the country’s gradual shift toward utility-scale renewable energy deployment. Gabonese independent power producer SOLEN SA has secured a EUR 28 million (USD 33.1 million) financing package to advance the first phase of the project located near Libreville, marking a milestone for what is expected to become the country’s first large-scale solar power installation integrated with battery storage.
The financing has been structured through a collaboration between the AFRIGREEN Debt Impact Fund and regional financial institution BGFIBank. The loan, issued in both euros and CFA francs, will support the construction of a 30 MW solar photovoltaic facility paired with an 8 MWh battery energy storage system situated approximately 30 kilometres from Libreville. This hybrid configuration is designed to improve grid stability and optimise solar generation output in a power system historically reliant on conventional baseload sources.
The Plaine Ayeme development is being implemented by SOLEN SA, which is owned by Dubai-based investment group Equitane Group. The project is underpinned by a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Gabonese state, providing long-term revenue certainty and establishing a framework for independent power generation within the national electricity market.
From a capacity perspective, the overall project is structured in two phases and will ultimately deliver 60 MW of solar photovoltaic generation alongside 30 MWh of battery storage once fully completed. SOLEN will oversee the project’s full lifecycle, including development, engineering, construction, and operational management, in accordance with the terms of the power purchase agreement.
Energy sector analysts note that the Plaine Ayeme project carries strategic importance for Gabon’s evolving energy landscape. The country’s electricity system currently relies predominantly on thermal and hydropower generation, a structure that exposes the grid to fuel supply volatility and hydrological variability. According to legal advisory firm De Gaulle Fleurance, which advised the lenders on the transaction, integrating solar-plus-storage infrastructure into the national grid represents an important step toward diversifying Gabon’s generation mix.
Beyond its contribution to clean power generation, the project is expected to play a stabilising role in the greater Libreville power network, where electricity demand has been steadily increasing alongside urban expansion and economic activity. By combining solar photovoltaic generation with battery storage, the Plaine Ayeme facility is positioned to deliver dispatchable renewable energy capable of supporting peak demand and strengthening grid resilience.
From a broader market perspective, the successful financial close of the project underscores growing investor confidence in Gabon’s renewable energy sector and highlights the role of blended finance structures in enabling early-stage clean energy infrastructure across emerging African markets.
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