International
Clean Energy Day
A special day to emphasize on modern rural electrification
The International Day of Clean Energy, proclaimed by the United Nations, is promoted annually on 26 January. It raises awareness for global action towards a sustainable energy transition. The message of the campaign is as clear as simple: Clean energy is not only a climate solution, but also a foundation for social and economic development.
The targeted change requires technological innovation, investment, and scalable solutions adapted to regional living conditions worldwide.
Clean Energy as a cornerstone of SDG 7
The United Nations have a well-known framework in the form of 17 Sustainable Development Goals, amongst them SDG 7, ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. It recognizes that energy access underpins nearly every aspect of development, from healthcare and education to economic opportunity and climate resilience.
The International Day of Clean Energy acknowledges this agenda by highlighting solutions that can accelerate progress in respect of SDG 7. Off-grid and hybrid renewable energy systems, combining solar power with battery storage, have emerged as one of the most promising opportunities to deliver reliable electricity at scale, especially for regions where grid extension is not feasible.
SMA Altenso: shaping alternative energy solutions
Altenso specializes in integrated power solutions for complex energy systems, realizing projects around the world. Round-the-clock energy for islanded communities; green hydrogen for mobility and industry; or fully off-grid energy systems on commercial scale to name just a few examples. The company has more than 10 years of profound experience in project deployment, logistics, and commissioning in difficult environments.
The company’s portfolio actively contributes to the SDG 7 goal through the implementation of off-grid and hybrid energy systems, or the utilization of renewable energy and battery energy storage systems (BESS) to address weak grid applications. The upshot is that fossil fuel-based power generation is reduced or replaced, or in some cases access to reliable electricity is even enabled for the first time.
A compelling real-life example is the Cazombo Photovoltaic Park in eastern Angola, the largest off-grid solar-plus-storage power plant in Africa. This project, executed by the Portugese infrastructure company MCA Group, combines:
- 25 MWp of solar PV capacity
- 75 MWh of battery energy storage
- Fully off‑grid operation without backup diesel generators
The hybrid plant provides reliable electricity to over 136,000 people in the rural town for the first time. Worth mentioning, the system operates without gensets, eliminating fuel logistics; reducing operating costs;, and avoiding millions of liters of annual diesel consumption.
For the local communities, this translates into tangible benefits: powering public infrastructure, powering homes, improved communication, and new economic opportunities.
Cazombo inspires SDG 7 initiatives
Cazombo is the first site of a country-wide pipeline under Angola’s Rural Electrification Program, which aims to deploy multiple autonomous solar-battery mini-grids across the country. Altenso has been selected as a key technology partner for this rollout, contributing not only customized hardware but also system integration expertise and commissioning services.
The ongoing execution of this pipeline underlines that large-scale fully renewable, off-grid power systems can replace conventional power plants entirely and provide people in underserved regions with clean and reliable electricity. This example is precisely the kind of solution that the International Day of Clean Energy seeks to promote.