Kenyans embrace d.light’s D30 Pay-Go solution
Since launching in October 2016, off-grid solar solution supplier d.light has sold over 120,000 units of its D30 Pay-Go home system. Most of the sales were made in East Africa, with the Kenyan market accounting for the majority of sales.
Strategic siting can boost solar development in Africa, says Berkeley Lab
A report from U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) assesses the wind and solar potential of Africa. According to the study, the two technologies can play a major role in the energy economy of the continent, especially if strategic siting and international interconnections are implemented.
Wärtsilä delivers 15 MW hybrid PV plant to Essakane Solar in Burkina Faso
The solar farm will be added and synchronized with an existing oil driven power plant. The hybrid power plant will serve a local gold mine, saving 18,500t CO2 emissions annually.
France supports South Africa grid improvement with $477 million
The French Development Agency (AFD) has provided South Africa’s power utility Eskom with a ZAR 6 billion ($477.7 million) credit facility. Eskom, which has delayed the development of several large-scale PV projects over the past years due to grid issues, will use the funds to improve its network and integrate more renewable energy power.
GreenWish Partners taps into Nigeria’s solar potential with $280m investment
The Paris-based private renewable power producer focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa has announced it is to invest $280 million in new PV power plants in Nigeria.
RMI calls for ‘action’ on Africa’s PV minigrid market
Solar-powered minigrids could account for a greater slice of sub-Saharan Africa’s $740 million off-grid market, but progress is still needed throughout the region in terms of policy, financing and commercial services, the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) says in a new report.
Namibia publishes tariffs for net-metering
Namibia’s Electricity Control Board (ECB) has announced the new rates applicable to PV systems installed under the government’s net-metering scheme. The new mechanism was introduced by the government in November 2016. PV projects up to 500 kVa can be developed under the scheme.
South Africa’s PV capacity reaches 1.47 GW, new PV installations for 2016 total 509 MW
The South African solar market registered 509 MW of new PV installations in 2016. The country’s cumulative PV capacity reached 1.47 GW as of the end of December. Meanwhile, the price of solar power has dropped significantly over the past five years.
Neoen secures 25-year PPA for 54 MW solar project in Zambia
The French developer has secured a 25-year PPA for Zambia’s largest PV plant. The project, which was selected in an auction held by the World Bank in 2014, will sell power to local utility ZESCO at US$0.0602 per KWh.
Burkina Faso: citizens, film festival and country go solar
Financing for two new large-scale PV plants, a 33 MW PV plant under construction and small installations indicate the African country embraces solar technology in order to satisfy its electricity needs.
