Santo Amaro Photovoltaic Power Plant: Driving Decarbonization of the Electricity Mix of São Tomé and Príncipe

 São Tomé, June 2025. With the inauguration of the Santo Amaro photovoltaic solar park with a total electric capacity of 1.7-megawatt, the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe has taken another concrete step toward achieving its national renewable energy targets and advancing the implementation of its NDC. The ceremony was attended by high-level representatives, including Prime Minister Dr. Américo Ramos, Minister of Infrastructure and Natural Resources Eng. Nelson Cardoso, Minister of Environment Dr. Nilda Borges, Mayor of Lobata District Mr. Euclides Buio, AfDB representatives Mrs. Samson Oyetunde and Mr. Pietro Toigo, UN Resident Coordinator Eric Overvest, and officials from national energy institutions. This landmark investment marks the country’s first renewable energy project in over 30 years and paves the way for further replication across the island nation.

The Santo Amaro solar park is a joint initiative of the Government, UNDP, UNIDO, and the AfDB. The turnkey 1.7 MWp facility was developed in two phases: a 0.5 MWp plant financed by UNDP, completed and commissioned in late 2022, and a 1.2 MWp expansion financed by AfDB. UNIDO played a central role by financing the rehabilitation of the PC5 Power Coupling Station, enabling the safe integration of the solar park into the national grid. The latter was funded through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project “Strategic Program to Promote Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Investments in the Electricity Sector of São Tomé and Príncipe”. 

This project marks a decisive step in São Tomé and Príncipe’s gradual shift from fossil-based, polluting energy sources to renewable and sustainable alternatives. Photovoltaic solar power stands out as one of the most viable options, given the country’s abundant solar resources, the scalability of the technology, and its rapid pace of innovation. Based on the successfiul pilot project, the World Bank is currently developing another 10 MW solar park PV facility close the PC5 substation. 

The high cost of thermal energy production has long placed a heavy burden on the state budget, with fuel imports diverting resources from priority development activities. At the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Américo Ramos underlined the tangible impact of the new photovoltaic infrastructure on reducing energy-related costs, noting with satisfaction: “From the 24th until today, current production has enabled a reduction of 15,000 liters of fuel.” He also expressed appreciation for the strong engagement of international partners supporting the decarbonization of the national energy sector.

UNIDO has been supporting the country’s just energy transition since 2018, including through the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness project “Building institutional capacity for a renewable energy and energy efficiency investment programme for São Tomé and Príncipe.” UNIDO has helped the Government to develop key policies, regulations, and guidelines, including national action plans for renewable energy and energy efficiency, strategies on clean cooking and solar thermal, guidelines for the installation and management of small hydropower plants, roadmaps and legislation for a low-carbon transport fuel economy and electric mobility, legislation for the reduction of commercial grid losses and small-scale renewable auto producers, as well as minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for appliances such as lighting, refrigeration and air conditioning.

These achievements not only represent an important milestone for São Tomé and Príncipe, but also provide practical models for replication within the framework of the Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for Central Africa (CEREEAC), established by UNIDO in partnership with the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

For further information, please, contact:

Martin Lugmayr, Industrial Development Expert, Project Manager: m.lugmayr@unido.org
Andrea Eras Almeida, Renewable Energy Project Expert: A.ERASALMEIDA@unido.org
Gabriel Maquengo, National Project Coordinator: G.LIMAMAQUENGO@unido.org
Belizardo Neto, National Young Energy Professional: B.DACONCEICAOAFONSONETO@unido.org