Africa

German PV developer BayWa r.e. has completed an 86 kW PV + storage project, which will power irrigation equipment for farmers in Zambia. The project marks Baywa r.e.’s first entrance on to the African continent, where the company says it has significant plans for expansion.

Despite 7% lower product sales, the latest global Off-grid solar market report from the World Bank Group reveals that market is thriving. However, industry needs to move quicker if it is to achieve global 2030 universal energy access goal.

The U.S.-based peer-to-peer solar equipment leasing marketplace Sun Exchange will use the funds for its pipeline of commercial-scale solar power projects.

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.

A €4 million fund will be used to support an initiative launched by the French Development Agency and the country’s power utility Eletricidade de Moçambique, E.P. (EDM).

The tender is part of the government plan to develop up to 500 MW of solar PV via the World bank’s Scaling Solar program.

The African financial institution plans to help Burkina Faso electrify Northern Dorsal Africa through solar power plants alongside with smaller projects such as solar pumps and lamps in rural areas.

The funds, provided by the International Development Association (IDA), will finance a project aimed at increasing access to electricity in rural and semi-urban areas of the Republic of Niger.

If built, the solar facility would be the country’s first large-scale PV power plant and would contribute to 13% of its maximum system demand.

The funds will be used to bring solar power solutions to the country’s under served northeastern counties.