Africa

An African Development Bank (AfDB) report covering critical takeaways from the ARE Energy Access Investment Forum 2023 says that challenges in financing, policy, technology, and skills enhancement must be overcome to support the deployment of distributed renewable energy minigrids across Africa.

According to new figures from the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA), the continent’s cumulative installed PV capacity reached 16 GW at the end of December, based on 3.7 GW of new annual installations.

Nextracker’s smart solar trackers are now either operational or under fulfillment for 10 GW of PV projects located in the Middle East, Africa, and India.

Will a redeployable solar and energy storage solution be the answer to unreliable grid electricity across much of Africa, as its developer proposes? Or will it merely be a temporary solution that will see cash-strapped utilities kick the can of universal energy access further down the road?

China and the USA have been consistently attracting the most annual solar investments. Together, these have received about 50% of all solar investments since 2015, according to a new report released by the International Solar Alliance at its sixth assembly in New Delhi.

The Assembly has decided to increase the viability gap funding for solar projects in member countries from 10% of the project cost to up to 35%, depending on the capacity and needs of the countries and their respective projects.

Husk Power Systems (Husk) has raised over $100 million in equity and debt to fund its new solar minigrid projects in South Asia and Africa. The company said the new capital would support 1,400 new minigrids, around 300,000 new connections, and avoid 350,000 tonnes of CO2 from the displacement of diesel generation while adding 2,500 new direct jobs.

The Sixth Assembly of the International Solar Alliance will focus on universalizing energy access through solar mini-grids, mobilizing finance for accelerated solar deployment, and diversifying supply chains and manufacturing for solar.

Auxano Solar has commissioned a 100 MW solar panel assembly factory in Lagos, Nigeria. It launched the project in 2016.

As solar energy becomes the most cost-effective form of energy generation in many countries, with clear climate, energy, and economic benefits, its acceptance and political support are growing. To enhance resilience and sustainability, strategies that incorporate a diverse energy mix, combining centralized and distributed renewable generation, are most effective, especially in underserved nations.