Cape Verde Adds Wind Power and Battery Storage by 2026

Cape Verde is showing the world that you don't need vast land to power big dreams with renewable energy.

The island nation, barely larger than Rhode Island and located off Senegal's coast, just completed a major expansion of its Cabeolica wind complex. The upgraded facility adds 13.5 megawatts of wind power and a 26-megawatt-hour battery storage system across four islands.

Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva inaugurated the project last year, celebrating what he called a strategic milestone for the nation. The expansion came online ahead of schedule and within budget, thanks to $64 million in bridge financing from the African Finance Corporation.

The battery storage system solves one of wind power's biggest challenges: capturing energy when the wind blows so it's available when people need it. For Cape Verde, this means more reliable electricity and less dependence on imported fossil fuels.

"From the early days of the Cabeolica project to this milestone inauguration, AFC's mission has remained unwavering," said Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of the African Finance Corporation. The project features one of the continent's most advanced grid-stabilizing battery systems.

The Ripple Effect

Cape Verde's success story reaches far beyond its shores. As the first commercial-scale renewable energy public-private partnership in sub-Saharan Africa, Cabeolica is creating a blueprint other nations can follow.

The project strengthens energy security for a country that previously relied heavily on imports. Now, Cape Verde is generating its own clean power while reducing emissions and stabilizing its electrical grid.

Chairman Ayotunde Anjorin emphasized that this model can be replicated across the region. Countries facing similar energy challenges can look to Cape Verde's example: innovative financing, strategic partnerships, and commitment to renewable infrastructure can transform energy independence from a distant goal into reality.

The expansion aligns with Cape Verde's national strategy to dramatically increase renewable energy output. With demand growing and climate concerns mounting, the nation chose to invest in sustainable solutions rather than remain dependent on fossil fuel imports.

Clean energy projects like this one are multiplying across Africa and worldwide, proving that the transition away from fossil fuels isn't just possible but practical and economically viable.

A small island nation is lighting the way toward a cleaner, more self-sufficient energy future for all.