Empower New Energy and Neo Industry S.A have announced the start of construction on a solar and battery storage project at Neo Industry’s cocoa processing facility in Kekem, Cameroon, marking Empower New Energy’s first investment in the country.
The project includes the installation of a 1.8 MWp rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and a 2.5 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS), aimed at reducing Neo Industry’s dependence on grid electricity and diesel-based power generation.
Éclipse Énergies Renouvelables is serving as the development and execution partner for the project, supporting the engineering, construction, and long-term maintenance of the energy system.
The investment will be delivered under a 25-year Power Support Agreement, under which Empower New Energy will finance, construct, operate, and supply electricity to Neo Industry’s processing facility.
According to the companies, the solar-plus-storage system is expected to improve energy reliability, lower operational energy costs, increase renewable self-consumption, and strengthen energy security for Neo Industry’s industrial operations.
Terje Osmundsen, Chief Executive Officer of Empower New Energy, said the partnership with Neo Industry demonstrates the potential of solar energy for industrial operations in Cameroon, particularly in a market where businesses continue to face unreliable and expensive electricity supply.
Chantal Bounkeu, Chief Executive Officer of Neo Industry S.A, said the collaboration aligns with the company’s strategy to strengthen its industrial platform through improved process control, quality standards, and operational efficiency while enhancing competitiveness in international cocoa markets.
Founded in 2019, Neo Industry has emerged as one of Cameroon’s leading cocoa processors and plays a significant role in the country’s value-added cocoa sector. The company currently processes around 32,000 tonnes of cocoa beans annually and is expanding its capacity to 80,000 tonnes per year to reduce the country’s dependence on raw cocoa exports.
Neo Industry works with a network of approximately 16,000 small suppliers, 20 cooperatives, and five unions, making it a key player in Cameroon’s agricultural value chain.
The project comes as Cameroon faces increasing energy challenges driven by rising electricity demand and supply disruptions linked to climate-related impacts, including low rainfall affecting hydropower generation. Electricity demand in the country is growing by around 10% annually, increasing pressure on the national grid.
To address these challenges, the Cameroonian government has outlined plans to develop 4 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2035, including solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and battery storage projects.
The new solar and battery project is expected to generate approximately 2,270.6 MWh of clean electricity annually and reduce around 1,505 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year, contributing to Cameroon’s climate targets under the Paris Agreement, which include a 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Ismael Touani, Chief Executive Officer of Éclipse Énergies Renouvelables, said the project represents an important milestone for solar energy development in Cameroon and reflects growing industrial interest in renewable energy adoption.
The companies said the project is also expected to create more than 120 direct and indirect jobs, supporting economic growth while advancing sustainable industrial energy solutions in the country.
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