The island of São Vicente is set to produce 40 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources, Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva announced recently, marking a significant step in Cape Verde’s broader clean energy transition.
The target, unveiled during a public address on national development priorities, signals an acceleration of the country’s renewable energy agenda, which aims to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and lower electricity generation costs. Cape Verde currently relies heavily on imported oil for power production, making it vulnerable to global price swings and balance-of-payments pressures.
The increase in renewable generation on São Vicente will be driven primarily by expanded wind and solar capacity, building on existing infrastructure and recent project investments. National plans have outlined substantial deployment of wind farms and photovoltaic systems across several islands, with energy storage systems also playing a role in stabilising supply.
Expanding clean energy production is framed by government officials as both an environmental necessity and an economic strategy, expected to reduce fuel imports, ease public finances, and create jobs in installation and maintenance of renewable assets. It also supports Cape Verde’s commitment to mitigate climate risks faced by small island developing states, including heat stress and water scarcity.
Cape Verde’s broader renewable targets include increasing the national share of renewables to 30 percent by 2025, 50 percent by 2030, and moving toward 100 percent by 2040 as outlined in the national energy master plan. Progress on São Vicente contributes directly to these goals and reflects ongoing international support, including financing for wind and solar expansions from regional development partners.
The government’s strategy aligns with regional and global efforts to decarbonise energy systems and build resilience through distributed clean generation and storage, positioning Cape Verde among Africa’s more proactive adopters of renewable energy.
