Sub-Saharan Africa

For the many millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa who lack access to electric lighting, sunset brings an almost enveloping dark. But Light Libraries is one handy solar-powered program that brings an affordable end to darkness for school students. pv magazine sat down with Sofia Ollvid from SolarAid to discuss how these libraries work.

Private Infrastructure Development Group recently made a non-binding commitment in Brussels to a provide funds for a project that aims to bring 10 GW of solar to Africa’s Sahel region.

Kampala-based developer Aptech Africa says it plans to build a 12 MWp solar plant in Juba.

EU development body Edfi Electrifi and impact investor Oikocredit will each take a $4 million stake in Canadian off-grid home panel business Solar Panda.

Solarcentury will develop the 100 MWac Chimuara Solar Project, starting with a 30 MW ac first stage.

Kenya’s new net-metering regulations will apply to PV systems up to 1 MW in size.

The European Investment Bank says a new €10 million ($10.5 million) loan will offer electricity access to almost 650,000 people in Benin.

The International Energy Agency’s latest “Africa Energy Outlook” report says grids will need to be expanded, along with natural gas exploitation, if everyone in Africa is to have access to electricity by 2030. On the solar front, the document predicts a levelized cost of energy of $0.018/kWh to $0.049/kWh by 2030 – cheaper than wind power or gas.

The Nigerian state of Lagos and the World Bank have announced plans for 1 GW of rooftop PV by 2030.

A large campus in Johannesburg – Vantage Data Centers’ first in Africa – will receive a third of its energy from solar panels.