USTDA awards grant for solar in Burkina Faso
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency has awarded a grant to Société de Production d’Energie Solaire de Kodéni SAS, a Burkina Faso based solar industry association. The grant will fund feasibility studies for two 17 MW PV plants to be located in the southwest of the country.
African Development Bank finances Mali’s first large-scale PV project with $25 million
The government of Mali has secured further funds to build the country’s first large-scale PV project. The 33 MW Segou Solar PV Project will sell power to local utility under a 25-year PPA.
EU supports Africa’s renewable energy and solar development with €300 million
The European Commission has decided to support the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative with €300 million ($317.7 million). The funds are intended to leverage up to €4.8 million ($5 billion) and to help finance 19 renewable energy projects totaling about 1.8 GW.
PV hybrid system to save 22% on electricity costs for Kenyan salt producer
A 991 kW PV array will supply Kenya’s largest salt producer with 22% of its electricity, in a diesel-hybrid system delivered by SolarAfrica. The system was supported by a grant from the Japanese government’s Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM).
World Bank mandates 500 MW of new solar capacity for Zambia
Zambian government signs agreement for the second tranche of the World Bank’s Scaling Solar program, which will support the construction of up to four solar PV plants in the country.
Enel puts 165 MW of solar online in South Africa
The Adams and Pulida projects were awarded in the third round of South Africa’s REIPPPP solicitation, and this brings Enel to 323 MW of solar online in the nation.
Azuri to roll out PayGo Solar to 20,000 Nigerian households
The British provider of the pay-as-you-go off-grid solar system has commenced the installation of its home systems across Nigeria, with the aid of the country’s Niger Delta Power Holding Company.
Financing solar in the developing world: what are the struggles?
Solar has started playing an important role in the developing world, but the pace of investment needs to step up. Is there enough financing for projects in the developing markets and if not, what needs to be done?
The pv magazine weekly digest
It’s ‘business as usual’ in the solar industry as the novelty of 2017 starts to wear off, and how better to get back into the swing of things with more, uncertain, developments in the possible extension of EU trade duties against Chinese cell and module manufacturers, leaving us with as many questions as answers.
Practical Action: solar enablers and award winners
The Practical Action non-governmental organisation (NGO) won a Zayed Future Energy Price last week at Abu Dhabi’s Sustainability Week for its work to reduce poverty. The NGO shares its experience of solar PV deployment in the developing world.
