UAE-backed solar plants are transforming Comoros’ energy landscape, generating enough clean electricity for around 17,500 homes while cutting reliance on imported diesel.
MORONI: Three UAE-backed solar plants are now powering a cleaner energy future for Comoros, giving the island nation nearly 20MW of new renewable capacity and enough electricity to meet the needs of around 17,500 households.
The plants have been developed across Comoros’ three main islands, with 12.86MW of capacity on Grande Comore, 4.05MW on Anjouan and 3.1MW on Mohéli.
The AED84.4 million project was financed by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, implemented by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, Masdar, and is managed by Global South Utilities.
Together, the facilities are expected to generate around 33.75GWh of clean electricity every year. They could also prevent approximately 20,900 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
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Why does the project matter for Comoros?
For an island nation that has depends heavily on imported fuel, adding locally generated solar power could make a noticeable difference.
Imported diesel accounted for 91 per cent of Comoros’ energy mix in 2024. Electricity demand reached 254GWh that year, while actual generation stood at just 150GWh, leaving a substantial gap between the power people needed and what the system could provide.
The UAE-backed solar plants are designed to help close part of that gap while reducing exposure to imported fuel prices and supply disruptions.
Solar panels are only one part of the development. The project also includes battery energy storage systems across Grande Comore and Anjouan, offering 16MWh of storage capacity and 8MW of power output.
Around 30 kilometres of medium-voltage overhead transmission lines have also been installed to help bring the new electricity into local networks.
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UAE clean energy expertise reaches Comoros
The project was inaugurated by Comoros President Azali Assoumani in the presence of senior officials from both countries.
For the UAE, the development adds another international project to its growing clean energy portfolio and demonstrates how renewable energy investment can support smaller nations facing energy security challenges.
For Comoros, the UAE-backed solar plants offer something more immediate i.e. additional electricity, lower dependence on diesel and a more diverse power supply.
The combination of solar generation, battery storage and grid infrastructure is particularly important because renewable power needs to remain useful even when the sun is not shining.
Impact to expect
The biggest impact could be greater energy security. Cleaner locally generated electricity can reduce Comoros’ reliance on imported diesel, support more reliable power supplies and lower emissions, while giving thousands of households access to electricity backed by renewable energy.
