Solar Power

Nigeria and Germany have signed a historic agreement that will see Africa’s largest oil producer supply more gas to Europe’s biggest gas consumer. In an MOU signed by Nigeria’s Riverside LNG project, which works in the country’s Niger Delta, and Germany’s Johannes Schuetze Energy Import, Nigeria will export 850,000 tons of liquefied natural gas per […]

A landmark initiative that brings together public, private, and development capital from UAE institutions, is providing $4.5 billion in funding to boost Africa’s energy transition efforts as the continent looks to close an energy deficit that has left 600 million people without access to electricity. The UAE finance initiative is drawing its support from the […]

Serengeti Energy has energized the 21 MWac Nkhotakota solar PV plant in Malawi last month, the company said last week. The energization of the facility was achieved on February 19 and paves the way to its commissioning and start of commercial operations. The project constitutes Phase 1 of the Nkhotakota solar PV plant which will […]

Zambia and the United Arab Emirates have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week towards the development of 2 GW of solar energy in the Southern African state. The MoU provides for the establishment of a joint-venture between the UAE’s state-owned entity Masdar and Zambia’s state-utility ZESCO. The project seeks […]

AMEA Power, a Dubai-based developer, owner and operator of green energy projects, has developed a strong appetite for Africa over recent years. The company already built West Africa’s biggest solar plant, a 50 MW PV facility in Blitta, Togo. Its commissioned and under-construction solar projects total some 130 MW, spread between Morocco, Burkina Faso, Togo, […]

AMEA Power has secured $25m in debt from the Abu Dhabi Exports Office to expand Togo’s Blitta solar PV facility. The 50 MW project, known as the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Solar Power Plant, was commissioned in June 2021 and is currently able to supply power to almost 160,000 Togolese households. Its expansion phase will […]

CrossBoundary Energy Access Nigeria (CBEA) and ENGIE Energy Access Nigeria have announced a new project finance agreement to build $60m worth of mini-grids in Nigeria. Undea the deal, both companies target the connection of 150,000 Nigerians to electricity. CBEA will finance the development and construction activities and own the projects, while ENGIE will provide long-term […]

LSE-listed Ncondezi Energy announced last week that it has launched a feasibility study for up to 300 MW of solar PV power plant plus a battery energy storage system (BESS) in Mozambique. The project is planned in the country’s Tete Province where the company is already developing an integrated coal mine project under mining concession […]

Earlier today, AMEA Power announced the signing of an Implementation Agreement (IA) and Joint Development Agreement (JDA) for a new 30 MW solar PV plant in Djibouti. The official ceremony was held in Djibouti in the presence of His Excellency President Ismail Omar Guelleh. The project will be Djibouti’s first solar independent power producer (IPP) […]

Yesterday, PPC Zimbabwe broke ground on two solar PV plants in Bulawayo and Gwanda in southwestern Zimbabwe. The facilities will have a combined generation capacity of 30 MWac and were awarded to a consortium of the African Transmission Corporation (ATC) and Sinohydro Corporation following a competitive tender. The consortium’s project company, CentraWest, is mandated to […]

The Ambatolampy 20MW 20/63KV solar substation, built by Malgasy contractor ENERTEC MADA, was successfully energized on April 9th. This marks a new critical milestone in the expansion of the Ambatolampy solar PV plant from 20MW to 40MW. The end of construction on the second phase of 20 MW had already been announced by AXIAN Energy’s […]

Last week, President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi of Mozambique inaugurated the 41 MWp Metoro solar PV plant, built in the northern Cabo Delgado province. The $56m facility is owned by French IPP Neoen (75%) and state utility EDM (25%) and was built by Portuguese contractor Efacec. It was financed by a $40m debt package provided by […]

Tronox Holdings, one of the world’s leading producers of high-quality titanium products, has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) this week with South African IPP SOLA Group for 200 MW of solar power capacity. The project is expected to be commissioned by Q4 2023 and supply clean energy to Tronox’ mines and smelters in South […]

First Quantum Minerals (FQM), the company that notably operates Africa’s biggest copper mine by production in Zambia, has entered into a new partnership with Chariot and Total Eren to develop 430 MW of solar and wind power for its mining operations in Zambia. Both Chariot and Total Eren had signed last year binding key terms […]

In Kenya, Alten Energías Renovables is expected to commission its 40 MW Kesses 1 solar PV plant in the spring this year. The company is currently constructing the facility outside of Eldoret in Kenya. It is located only 1km away from the existing Eldosol and Radiant solar plants of Frontier Energy, each equipped with a […]

Nigerian impact investment company, All On, Odyssey Energy Solutions, and the recently launched Global Alliance for People and Planet (The Alliance) have launched this month a global aggregated procurement programme for renewable energy companies in Nigeria. The initiative is supported by a $10 million financing facility managed by All On. Dubbed “Demand Aggregation for Renewable […]

Last week, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, FMO, announced the completion of financing and contracting for 110 MWp of solar PV capacity in Burkina Faso. In total, four different solar projects are now entering the construction phase: Kodeni Solar (38 MWp), Nagreongo-SPES Ouagagoudou (30 MWp), Quadran Burkina Faso (24 MWp) and Dedougou Solar (18 MWp). […]

President of Malawi, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, officially inaugurated and commissioned the 60 MW Salima solar PV plant this week in Malawi’s Central Region. The Salima Solar project originated back in 2013 and entered the planning and design phase in June 2015. With 60 MWac, it is by far Malawi’s biggest solar plant and one of […]

Chariot has signed binding key terms of a long-term joint-development partnership with Total Eren, the company said this morning. By working with Total Eren, Chariot intends to jointly originate and develop wind and solar projects for mining clients in Africa. The partnership will have an initial duration of three years and start on January 1st, […]

Seven-Up Bottling Company, Nigeria’s manufacturer of soft drinks such as Pepsi, Mirinda, Seven Up, H2oh!, and Mountain Dew, has decided to switch to solar as a primary day-time source of energy over all its Nigerian factories. The company has signed a deal with Daystar Power to install 10.5 MW of solar power systems for five […]

South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), Mr. Gwede Mantashe, has announced yesterday the preferred bidders for the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) Bid Window 5. The round resulted in the selection of five consortium as preferred bidders for 25 projects totalling 2,583 MW of renewable energy. The bidders will […]

Sonangol, Total Eren, and Greentech – Angola Environment Technology Ltd (Greentech) have announced that they executed last week the Shareholders Agreement establishing their partnership on the 35 MWp Quilemba Solar project in Angola. According to the agreement, Sonangol will be acquiring a 30% interest in Quilemba Solar Lda, while Total Eren and Greentech will own […]

by Hage G. Geingob, President of Namibia, Office of the President of Namibia for the World Economic Forum Namibia launched its Second Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPPII) in March 2021. The country is on course to develop a green and blue economy as articulated under the economic advancement pillar of the plan. By electrifying key parts […]

During its 342nd period meeting under the chairmanship of H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser on Sunday, the Islamic Development Bank has approved $20.15 million for a rural electrification project based on mini solar power plants in Togo. In addition, the IsDB announced that its Lives and Livelihoods Fund provided $10.85m to improve the level of […]