News Update - October 2022: Part 1

Nigeria

Nigeria: 5MW Solar PPA for Abuja university campusSolar developer Rensource has entered into a PPA with Baze University in Nigeria to design and finance a Solar PV. More

AMP programme launched for electrification via green mini-gridsThe African Mini Grid Programme (AMP) has just been launched in Nigeria. This regional green mini-grid electrification programme will be implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) of Nigeria. More

Husk commissions 6 hybrid solar mini-grids in Nasarawa StateWith plans to commission an additional eight solar mini-grids by early-2023, Husk Power Systems currently has a pipeline of up to 100 such installations for future development. More

South Africa

Old Mutual’s AIIM to invest in 1GW South Africa solar farmSouth Africa’s SolarAfrica and Nigeria’s Starsight Energy will invest in a 1 gigawatt solar farm in South Africa, Damilola Agbaje, tells The Africa Report. More

56 wind and solar projects bid into South Africa’s enlarged renewables roundA total of 56 wind and solar projects have been submitted by prospective bidders under the sixth bid window (BW6) of South Africa’s (REIPPPP). More

Anglo American and EDF, partner on South Africa renewablesAnglo American and EDF Renewables have formed a plan to create a new joint owned renewable energy company, Envusa Energy, in South Africa. More

South Africa wants Saudi Arabia to help with load sheddingSouth Africa wants to attract investment and developments from Saudia Arabia that can assist in domestic energy challenges, says Ebrahim Patel, the minister of trade and industry of South Africa. More

Rio Tinto sources Voltalia solar power for South Africa mineRio Tinto's South Africa unit will source solar power from a plant built by France's Voltalia to seek alternative electricity supply for South Africa's power cuts. More

Exxaro wants to buy large solar, wind companyExxaro Resources, one of South Africa's biggest coal miners, is considering bids for Actis’s BTE Renewables. More

Eskom signs first land deals for private solar, wind farmsThe successful bidders are HDF Energy South Africa, Red Rocket SA, Sola Group and Mainstream Renewable Power Developments South Africa. More

Yellow Door Energy raises $400m in equity to develop sustainable energy projectsThe funding was provided by YDE’s newest and now controlling shareholder, Actis, with existing shareholders IFC, Mitsui, and APICORP also invested. More

Kenya

Kenya’s Ruto breaks ranks and says africa must leapfrog fossil fuelKenya’s President William Ruto, who took office last month, urged Africa to embrace renewable energy. More

DPA clinches huge 4MW rooftop solar project in KenyaDistributed Power Africa and  French multinational power utility firm Électricité de France (EDF), have clinched a deal to construct a 4 MW solar plant in Kenya. More

Trina Solar brings next-generation photovoltaic technology to KenyaThe new facility located in Nairobi will act as a regional hub for the East Africa region and will serve all neighboring countries. More

Rest of Sub-Saharan Africa

Zambia - RDG Collective and EDFI ElectriFI to narrow electrification gapThe EU, through the EDFI ElectriFI impact investing facility, supports off-grid solutions in Zambia by investing in RDG Collective, with USD 2 million.  More

DRC / Rwanda - InfraCo, Equatorial to invest US $1.7m in solar mini-gridsInvestment company InfraCo Africa has signed a partnership with renewable energy provider Equatorial Power to US $1.7M to develop a portfolio of solar mini-grids. More

Africa - DFC’s invests US$40 million in Energy Entrepreneurs Growth FundU.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced a participation of up to US$40 million in the Energy Entrepreneurs Growth Fund (EEGF). More

Liberia - Beyond the Grid Fund (BGFA) signs a new project with Easy SolarBGFA) program has signed an agreement with service company Easy Solar to support the scale-up of high-quality solar home systems and appliances in the country. More

Mali - FMO invests €5.5m in SolarX to provide solar energy to SMEsThe company will use the funding to provide solar energy to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). More