African solar looks beyond donor nations for investment
Multilateral organizations the World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB) have played a key role in the development of African solar and want to attract more private capital to a continent with at least 40% of the world’s solar irradiation but currently only 1% of its PV generation capacity.
Solar and wind together overhaul global hydro capacity
The latest set of clean energy statistics compiled by the International Renewable Energy Agency signal a changing of the guard when it comes to clean power, with legacy hydropower facilities overtaken by new intermittent renewables.
African utilities wary of threat from renewables
The rise of clean energy and prosumers, net metering and greenhouse gas regulation all figure among the bogeymen as far as national electric companies are concerned.
World Bank to devote $1 billion to storage in developing countries
The Accelerating Battery Storage for Development program is intended to leverage US$4 billion in new investments, and to support projects for utility-scale solar parks with battery storage, off-grid systems, including mini-grids, and stand-alone batteries.
Eni joins race for Africa’s clean energy market
Via an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Italian oil company aims to increase its presence in Africa’s renewable energy markets. It already invests more than half of its budget in the region.
Solar to account for 9% of new energy capacity in Africa in next 2 years
An Africa power sector scorecard shows that solar will make inroads into the African energy sector over the next two years, accounting for 9% of new capacity additions, as renewables uptake across the continent continues to grow.
France’s Orange enters African off-grid solar market
The French multinational telecommunications corporation has announced a plan to begin providing off-grid solar solutions to Burkina Faso and, at a later stage, in Senegal, Mali, Guinea, and the Ivory Coast.
Apis Partners provides Greenlight Planet with $60 million in funds
The U.S.-based off-grid specialist will use these financial resources to expand its business in Asia and Africa.
German Development Bank sets up €33 million credit facility to support renewables in Africa
The facility is planned to improve liquidity of developers of renewable energy projects up to 50 MW across Africa.
Interview: the next decade belongs to Africa
Dr. Sam Duby, Africa Director for TFE Consulting, sat down with PV Magazine to discuss insights from TFE’s new report “Kenya: The World’s Microgrid Lab”, the importance of on-the-ground experience in energy access projects, and how tech and social innovation in Africa will be the headline of the next decade.
