Yaoundé Smart Solar Lighting and Microgrid Upgrade

Smart solar microgrid installert

Omexom Cameroon partnered with the Urban Community of Yaoundé (CUY) to implement a pioneering renewable energy project aimed at modernizing the city’s public lighting system. Building on a collaboration since 1996, the project replaces old sodium vapor lamps with smart, solar-powered LED lights linked to a hybrid photovoltaic microgrid incorporating a 33-kW solar plant, a 50-kWh energy storage system, and an intelligent Energy Management System (EMS). This microgrid ensures continuous operation during grid outages by optimizing energy flow and battery usage in real time.

LED-gatelamper sparer energi

The project involved installing 96 high-efficiency monocrystalline solar panels over 167 square meters at Yaoundé City Hall, powering 100 remotely monitored streetlights. In total, 400 outdated 250-W sodium lamps were replaced with LEDs developed in collaboration with French partner ECLATEC, leading to a 90% reduction in energy consumption and a 91% decrease in maintenance costs. This upgrade reduces CO₂ emissions by about 90 tons annually, contributing significantly to local environmental goals.

Opplæring og videre planlegging

Capacity building and knowledge transfer to CUY’s technical teams were key components to ensure the system’s sustainability and to prepare for the project's expansion across other city districts. Despite initial challenges including COVID-19 related delays and logistics issues, the project was completed and inaugurated on April 17, 2025, with strong diplomatic support. Ongoing studies, led by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, are evaluating replication potential citywide as part of the broader Master Plan for Light Development (SDAL), positioning Yaoundé as a leader in sustainable urban development in Africa.