ARTsolar challenges local content compliance in South African solar tenders
A High Court in South Africa ordered the country’s Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy to deliver full documentation relating to three solar tenders awarded in 2021 and 2022 to local solar manufacturer ARTsolar, after the company questioned if the preferred bidders had followed local content requirements for PV modules set out in the tenders. ARTsolar told pv magazine its legal team is currently reviewing the documentation it has received.
South Africa’s Eskom resorts to grid-scale gravity energy storage
Gravity storage gets a boost from South Africa’s state-owned utility Eskom.
Zambia’s largest solar plant goes online
The 136 MW Itimpi II solar plant is Zambia’s largest operational solar project to date. Elsewhere in the country, an investment agreement has been signed to add 250 MW of solar to the 100 MW Nambala solar power plant.
Assessment of Nigeria’s agrivoltaic potential identifies northern states as optimal areas
A geospatial assessment of agrivoltaic potential in Nigeria finds greatest opportunity in the country’s northern regions with plentiful cropland, high solar irradiance and low electricity access rates. It calculated that meeting projected mid-century solar demand in the states of Kano, Katsina and Jigawa could be achieved by installing agrivoltaics on less than 1.5% of cropland.
Angola switches on Africa’s largest off-grid solar-plus-storage park
The off-grid solar project, encompassing 31.85 MW of solar connected to 75.26 MWh of battery energy storage, will supply energy to over 90,000 people in eastern Angola.
IFC, Norfund back 315 solar hybrid minigrids in Nigeria
The solar minigrids, to be developed by five renewable energy service companies, are expected to facilitate over 494,000 new electricity connections in Nigeria.
The Hydrogen Stream: AfDB backs projects, Europe logs 265 offers
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has launched a hydrogen funding call for African projects, while the European Commission has registered 265 supply opportunities under its Hydrogen Mechanism.
Mozambique relaunches 30 MW solar tender in EU-backed program
Mozambique’s energy regulator has reopened pre-qualification for a 30 MW solar project in Sofala province, after a previous award to Total Eren under the same program in 2022.
Botswana breaks ground on 500 MW solar-plus-storage project
The Maun solar project will encompass 500 MW of solar tied to 500 MWh of battery storage in northeastern Botswana, making it one of the largest projects of its kind in southern Africa. A 30-year power purchase agreement is in place between project developers Okavango Solar, wholly-owned by Oman’s NAQAA Sustainable Energy LLC, and Botswana Power Corporation.
Work begins on Zambia’s largest solar-plus-storage project
Globeleq has started construction on 250 MW solar farm connected to 150 MW/600 MWh of battery storage in Zambia’s Lusaka Province.
