As part of Dar’s commitment to sustainability, the company has successfully commissioned a 100 kWac solar photovoltaic system at the Staff Compound in Luanda, Angola, as of August 1, 2024. This installation represents a step towards Dar’s vision of integrating renewable energy solutions throughout its operations.

The newly installed solar system is designed to significantly lower electricity costs and decrease diesel consumption, which aligns with the company’s goal of reducing its carbon footprint. The system features 12 parallel-connected strings, each with 16 high-efficiency 600 W panels, all integrated with a 100 kWac inverter. Mounted on a fixed steel structure, these panels provide a maximum DC power of 115.2 kW.

To enhance energy efficiency, a microgrid controller optimises performance by managing the system during generator operation, minimising the generator’s load and improving overall system efficiency. Real-time energy production is monitored through an application connected to the inverter. This enables the operations and maintenance (O&M) team to promptly address any issues and ensure optimal system performance.

The staff compound has an average load of 43 kW and a daily electricity consumption of approximately 1 MWh. The new solar system is expected to produce around 184.3 MWh annually, which will result in an annual reduction of CO2 emissions by a minimum of 478 metric tons.

Most notably, utilising locally produced power will lead to the reduction of both the power requirements and transmission losses from the Electric Transmission Company.

Dar remains committed to prioritizing reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and integrating renewable energy solutions across its global operations, creating a more sustainable future for generations to come and contributing to meeting our Net Zero goal by 2030, by and clean power generation, where possible.