Scatec’s Release to deploy 64 MW solar, batteries in West Africa

• Scatec’s Release business signed leases to deliver 64 MW of solar with 10 MWh of batteries across Liberia and Sierra Leone, boosting reliable off-grid power.

Scatec’s modular power arm, Release, has sealed new lease agreements to provide 64 MW of solar generation paired with 10 MWh of battery storage across Liberia and Sierra Leone—an expansion that targets fast, reliable power in countries where grids are fragmented and diesel costs remain high. The approach is fundamentally different from traditional utility builds: standardized, containerized equipment arrives quickly, is installed with minimal civil works, and can be scaled or relocated as needs evolve.

The engineering is tailored for speed and resilience. Pre-fabricated PV blocks with string inverters and plug-and-play MV skids minimize site work and commissioning time. The accompanying battery systems—compact but potent—smooth short-term fluctuations, provide fast frequency response, and offer limited evening shifting to reduce generator runtime. Grid-forming inverters enable microgrid stability, while SCADA ties solar, storage and any existing diesel into a single control layer that prioritizes lowest-cost, lowest-emissions dispatch.

Why leases? In markets where public balance sheets are stretched, lease-to-own or long-term rental structures avoid heavy upfront capex and transfer much of the performance risk to the provider. Utilities and large C&I users get immediate tariff relief and cleaner power; Release earns through availability-linked fees and service contracts. Standardization across sites simplifies spares, training and troubleshooting, crucial in regions where logistics can add weeks to lead times.

Siting near towns, mines or industrial hubs trims transmission losses and raises reliability where it matters most—clinics, schools, water systems and small businesses. Environmental and social safeguards are baked in: compact footprints, community consultations, drainage controls sized for intense rainfall, and clear decommissioning provisions. Local contractors handle civil and electrical works where possible, building a skills base that persists after installation.

The 10-MWh battery tranche may sound modest, but paired with disciplined load management it punches above its weight—suppressing short outages, reducing flicker and enabling diesel-off operation during bright hours. As demand grows, additional battery blocks can stack to lengthen discharge windows.

For Liberia and Sierra Leone, the Release model is a pragmatic bridge: cleaner, cheaper power today, with flexibility to grow into sturdier grids tomorrow. For Scatec, it’s proof that modular renewables can scale beyond pilots—turning containerized hardware and smart controls into dependable electricity where it’s most transformative.