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.
South Africa exempts IPPs up to 1 MW from licensing
Under the new rules, unlicensed PV installations not exceeding 1 MW may provide with power a final client or be used for self-consumption.
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.
South Africa: All oustanding solar PPAs can find a workable solution
South African consultant and PV expert Chris Ahlfeldt has explained to pv magazine how the impasse of the outstanding PPAs of round 3.5 and 4 of the country’s REIPPPP program may affect solar PV less than other renewable energy technologies. The PPAs relate to twelve large-scale solar projects totaling 813 MW selected in round 4.
South African government to sign outstanding PPAs for solar and renewables in late October
The PPAs are related to 37 utility-scale projects selected in Rounds 3.5 and 4 of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).
South Africa makes it easier to deploy large-scale solar in renewable energy zones
The country’s Ministry of Environmental Affairs has simplified the environmental impact assessment process for large-scale solar and wind power projects in South Africa’s eight Renewable Energy Development Zones.
South Africa’s new energy minister postpones long-expected signing of 37 PPAs for solar and renewables
The signing of the PPAs was expected to enable financial closure of several PV and wind power projects being developed under South Africa’s REIPPPP program.
Solar Show Africa 2017 exhibits diversification of South Africa PV market
As market participants in South Africa wait for the final results of the country’s fourth round of the successful REIPPP tender program for large-scale solar PV to be announced in early April, this week’s Solar Show Africa, part of the 20th Power & Electricity World Africa 2017 in Johannesburg, showed a growing diversification of solar PV in this leading African market.
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.
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.
