Madagascar wants more off-grid solar for rural areas, preps to host first grid-connected PV plants
Madagascar’s Ministry of Energy and Hydrocarbons is increasing efforts to implement its rural electrification plan for 2015-2020. Meanwhile, the government is also seeking developers for the island’s first MW-sized grid-connected PV projects.
Sierra Leone’s first utility-scale PV project moves forward
The government of the West African country has signed an implementation agreement for a 6 MW solar project in Freetown. The country’s first MW-sized PV plant is being built with the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD).
African Development Bank supports 20 MW off-grid solar project in Zimbabwe
AFDB’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) has agreed to provide Oxygen Energy with $1 million in financing to support the preliminary phase of a 20 MW off-grid rooftop solar project in the eastern African country.
Gambia seeks to assess how solar can be combined with its mini-grids
Gambia’s National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has issued a tender to select companies to conduct feasibility studies to assess the country’s potential for solar and hybridized PV projects in mini-grids and close to existing power plants.
USTDA helps Kenya build 40 MW solar-plus-storage power plant
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency will partner with Kenya-based engineering services provider Xago Africa on the development of the project. U.S. battery maker Suniva will supply a battery that will be combined with the facility.
Dangote Industries and Blackstone plan 100 MW solar plant in Nigeria
The Nigerian industrial group was granted funds to conduct the feasibility study for the 100 MW facility by the USTDA. The plant would be built in Kano State, in the north of Nigeria, where the two companies are also planning to construct a 1 GW coal power plant.
Canadian Solar supplies modules to Uganda’s largest PV project
The Chinese solar manufacturer and developer has supplied 10 MW of solar PV modules to the Soroti Photovoltaics Plant in Uganda.
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.
Global installed PV capacity exceeds 300 GW, IEA PVPS
The world’s cumulative PV capacity had surpassed 303 GW at the of 2016, according to a report from IEA PVPS. Globally, solar power is now able to cover approximately 1.8% of power demand.
Access Power gets financing for 50 MW PV project in Nigeria
The $1.65 million loan will be used to co-finance a 50 MW solar facility under development in Nigeria’s Kaduna State. The company expect to reach financial close for the project by the end of this year.
