As Pope visits Mozambique, plans for large solar field on Church land launched

An MoU (memorandum of understanding) and two land-lease agreements were signed for large-scale solar fields on Anglican church lands in Mozambique and Eswatini, as part of the Faith Inspired Renewable Energy project, a collaboration between the Jerusalem-based Interfaith Centre for Sustainable Development (ICSD), renewable energy company Gigawatt Global, and the Anglican Church in northern Mozambique and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland).

Phillipa Friedland, deputy director of ICSD, signed an MoU in Lichinga, Mozambique with Her Excellency Francisca Domingos Tomas, Governor of Niassa Province. Friedland said: "The overwhelming majority of rural households, schools, and health clinics in Niassa Province lack electricity. Our goal is to significantly increase clean energy generation and help reduce energy poverty in one of the poorest places in the world. Renewable energy production can significantly reduce reliance on diesel and gathered wood, the most polluting fuels, thereby helping to address air pollution and climate change."

"Electrifying Africa is one of the largest development challenges on earth," said Josef Abramowitz, CEO and founder of Gigawatt Global. "There are less than 10 completed utility-scale Photovoltaic (PV) solar fields in all of sub-Saharan Africa, where over 600 million people have no access to electricity. These projects will make an incredible difference in people's lives, providing green energy as well as rental income to faith communities in these southern African countries, promoting health and economic development as well."

Bishop Vicente Msosa of the Anglican Church of Niassa Province said: "The Gigawatt Global/ICSD solar energy project will be most welcomed as the current energy supply is sporadic and insufficient. This clean energy project will spur much needed sustainable development."

With less than 15% of Mozambicans connected to the electrical grid, most people face chronic poverty. The majority of the population lives on less than $2 a day and many experience food insecurity and malnutrition. Mozambique, with a population of 29 million, is greatly impacted by climate change and recently took the brunt of the most powerful storm ever to reach Africa, Cyclone Kenneth.

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The Interfaith Centre for Sustainable Development (ICSD) works on a global basis, with current engagement in Africa, the Middle East, North America, and Europe. ICSD's work in The Faith Inspired Renewable Energy Project promotes sustainable development through the deployment of solar and wind energy. It brings renewable electricity to Africans, curb climate change, and enable current and future generations to live sustainably. ICSD engages African religious institutions in practicing the ethical imperatives of creation care by facilitating alternative energy development on their lands.

Gigawatt Global is a multinational renewable energy platform bringing new sources of green power and social development to Africa and other emerging markets. Led by a team of seasoned project developers, financiers, impact investors and solar energy experts, the American-owned Dutch company develops renewable energy installations (solar, wind and hydro) across the African continent.