Nigeria’s C&I solar plans under a cloud of diesel
A new approach aims to reconnect commercial and industrial (C&I) energy users to the grid, supplying daytime power from solar and batteries through grid infrastructure funded by PV installers, with diesel as a backup when needed.
Nigeria breaks ground on solar module assembling plant
Nigeria’s Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology has said the country is committed to replicating similar solar module assembling plants across all its geopolitical zones.
Lead-free inverted perovskite solar cells without transparent conducting oxides may achieve 30% efficiency
Researchers in Nigeria have proposed to build inverted perovskite solar cells exclusively with all-inorganic transport materials and a lead-free perovksite absorber. Through a series of simulations, they showed these device may achieve efficiencies over 30% with low production costs.
Nigeria to deploy 250 MW of distributed solar
Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency is partnering with Husk Power Systems for interconnected minigrids and isolated minigrids, rooftop commercial and industrial (C&I) solar, productive use of energy (PUE) initiatives, appliance sales, and financing.
Testing zeotropic fluids in high-temperature heat pumps
A German-Nigerian research group simulated the usage of mixtures of zeotropic fluids with varying boiling or condensing temperatures in industrial heat pumps. The best results were obtained with a mixture of cyclohexane and cyclopropane.
UK firm finalizes $18 million deal for renewables in Nigeria
UK-based Konexa has finalized a deal that will see Climate Fund Managers and Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund invest $18 million to establish Nigeria’s inaugural private renewable trading platform and provide renewable energy to Nigeria Breweries.
Weekend Read: Consolidating growth in Africa
Across Africa, rooftop solar is stepping in to fill the void as fears of non-payment and inflation-reduced donor funding dampen enthusiasm for big solar. Commercial and industrial (C&I) arrays are leading the charge, driving consolidation in markets overstocked with startup and mid-size installers.
Weekend Read: Install grid-connected solar, rinse, repeat
Will a redeployable solar and energy storage solution be the answer to unreliable grid electricity across much of Africa, as its developer proposes? Or will it merely be a temporary solution that will see cash-strapped utilities kick the can of universal energy access further down the road?
The Hydrogen Stream: Netherlands starts building hydrogen network
The Dutch authorities have started building a national hydrogen network, while Fortescue has acquired a 12.5% stake in Norwegian Hydrogen.
Nigerian manufacturer commissions 100 MW solar panel factory
Auxano Solar has commissioned a 100 MW solar panel assembly factory in Lagos, Nigeria. It launched the project in 2016.
