Scatec signs PPA for large-scale solar-plus-storage project in Egypt
Norway’s Scatec Asa has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Egypt Aluminium for a 1.1 GW solar plant with 100 MW/200 MWh of battery energy storage. The agreement has been billed as Egypt’s first utility-scale PPA with an industrial offtaker.
Africa’s solar capacity forecast to double over next four years
A report from the Global Solar Council says Africa’s solar deployment is set to accelerate in the coming years, but stresses that mobilizing finance and strong regulatory frameworks will be required to attract investors.
Experimental system cools PV panels while keeping them clean
Researchers had placed a cotton sheet on the back of a PV module, which was then made wet and cooled. On the front side, water was pumped water from a pipe in a way that kept the panel both cool and clean. Their experimental setup showed superior results compared to reference cooling technologies.
The Hydrogen Stream: Morocco approves $32.5 billion of green hydrogen projects
The Moroccan government has approved six projects by a range of foreign companies, while the European Hydrogen Bank’s second auction for renewable hydrogen production has attracted 61 bids from projects in 11 countries.
New method to predict solar module lifespans under sand erosion
A team of researchers in Algeria has designed a new testbed and a novel acceleration law that accounts for both wind speed and sand density. The new methodology was tested on four PV modules and showed lifespans of up to 47 years in terms of sand impact.
The Hydrogen Stream: H2 projects in Algeria and Mauritania under the spotlight
As Saudi-Algerian researchers report on the northern African country’s hydrogen potential, Denmark’s GreenGo Energy starts its 6 GW electrolysis hydrogen project in Mauritania.
The Hydrogen Stream: China not to dominate the electrolyzer supply chains, says Oies
The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES) says China’s efforts to cut electrolyzer costs could follow its success in solar, but will not guarantee dominance in global supply chains.
The impact of PV module orientation, water quality on hydrogen production
Scientists in Tunisia have investigated the impact of PV panel tilt and water quality on green hydrogen production and have found that, with a variable orientation PV panel, the hydrogen generator could reach an efficiency ranging from 32% to 62% using demineralized water and 45% to 65% with distilled water.
MENA region on track for 75 GW of solar by 2030
Dii Desert Energy, an energy transition think tank, has reported the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will have a cumulative solar capacity of 75 GW at the end of the decade if the current project pipeline is fully realized. It adds an additional 40 GW of solar projects need to be planned and executed in the next five years to match the region’s pledged 2030 targets.
The Hydrogen Stream: 41 hydrogen projects to start in Africa by 2029
The Energy Industries Council (EIC) says 41 hydrogen projects are set to begin development across Africa in the next five years, led by North African nations like Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco.
