The renewables unit of China National Nuclear Power (CNNP) is considering a move into the solar market of the Southeast Asian market of Timor-Leste, two sources told Infralogic. 

CNNP Rich Energy is interested in taking part in an international tender to develop a solar plus battery energy storage system, they said.

The tender, which was announced in February this year by state utility Eletricidade de Timor-Leste, is seeking an investor that can design, finance, operate and maintain a 72-85 MW solar power plant and a 36-43 MW battery energy project under long-term purchase agreements with the state grid in the capital city of Manatuto, the sources said. 

The project will also feature integrated communications and control systems and transmission infrastructure to connect to Timor-Leste’s network. The duration of the integrated power facility will be about 25 years, and the bid deadline is 1 May. 

Renewables account for only 8% of the total electricity supply in Timor-Leste, with 99% of that coming from bioenergy and 1% from solar, according to a report issued by the International Energy Agency last year.   

CNNP Rich Energy, which last year secured investments from China Life Insurance, CITIC Securities and China Everbright, is also studying a potential acquisition of two wind projects, one in Bulgaria and the other in Kazakhstan, as reported. 

Chinese state-owned  CNNP is also looking to raise funding this year to expand its global portfolio. It plans to boost its overseas renewables investments, particularly across developing countries in Eurasia.

CNNP Rich Energy is focused on wind, solar, biomass and other clean-energy developments in China. It has a target of 33 GW by 2025 and aims to augment capacity annually by about 5 GW. 

CNNP Rich Energy did not reply to a request for comment.