Mauritius has taken a decisive step in its long-running shift away from fossil fuels, with renewable energy developer Qair securing about $150 million in financing to deliver the Stor’Sun hybrid solar-plus-storage project, the largest clean energy investment on the island in more than a decade.
The financing deal, closed recenly, was backed by leading domestic lenders, including SBM Bank (Mauritius) and MCB Group, signalling growing confidence among local financial institutions in the commercial viability of sustainable infrastructure. Analysts say the involvement of homegrown capital is as significant as the project itself, reflecting a maturing green finance ecosystem in Mauritius.
At full operation, Stor’Sun will deliver 60 megawatts of solar photovoltaic capacity paired with a 256 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system. The hybrid plant is expected to meet about eight per cent of national electricity demand, a notable contribution for an island nation whose power system has long depended on imported coal and petroleum products. The integration of grid-forming inverter technology is designed to strengthen grid stability, allowing renewable energy to play a more central role without compromising reliability.
For Mauritius, where land is limited and the grid has little flexibility, the project addresses one of renewable energy’s most persistent challenges: intermittency. By storing excess solar power generated during the day and releasing it during evening peak demand, Stor’Sun will help smooth fluctuations in supply, reduce pressure on thermal power plants and lower exposure to volatile global fuel prices. Energy planners say this load-shifting capability is critical for cutting both costs and carbon emissions over the long term.
Beyond its technical impact, the project carries broader significance for the country’s energy transition. It aligns with Mauritius’ ambition to significantly increase the share of renewables in its electricity mix by 2030 and to build resilience against climate and economic shocks. The hybrid model also offers a template for other small island and emerging economies seeking to scale clean energy without undermining grid stability.
As climate risks intensify across the Indian Ocean region, projects like Stor’Sun underscore how targeted investment in renewables and storage can translate sustainability goals into concrete infrastructure. If delivered on schedule, the project could mark a turning point for Mauritius, demonstrating that island grids, once seen as too constrained for large-scale renewables, can leapfrog into a more secure, low-carbon energy future.
