Page 24 - Energize March 2021

TECHNICAL

Power developments in Africa

Compiled by Roger Lilley, Now Media

Village receives solar power in unique pilot LNG project gets underway

Residents of a village in Malawi are to receive free electric lighting, powered by solar PV panels, ABB will deliver comprehensive integrated
in a unique pilot programme. The pilot will run for a year. Thereafter, residents will be given and electrical systems for Total’s $20-billion
the opportunity to buy the panels, or to lease them, paying only for the electricity they have Mozambique LNG project. The scope
consumed. A British trust made this pilot possible by donating £75 000 to the project. The trust of the 26-month contract includes the
hopes that this initiative will spur others on to support other African villages with similar projects. delivery of 14 onshore electrical substation
buildings and electrical control and power-
management-system integration with 110
Foreign investment in energy Distributing clean energy kV gas-insulated switchgear, medium-
voltage, and low-voltage switchgear.
sector to boost economy across the country Expected to start production by 2024, the
Mozambique LNG development carries
It has been estimated that upwards The African Development Bank has a capacity of 13 million tons of liquefied
of $100-billion will be invested across committed $530-million to finance natural gas per year and represents one
Mozambique’s energy value chain to the construction of a 343 km, 400 kV of the largest energy investments on the
monetize its gas resources. Investments to transmission line which will connect the continent to date.
its gas industry, gas to power, and planned north and south transmission grids in
petrochemical developments will have a Angola and allow for the distribution of
significant impact in improving not only the clean energy between the two regions.
socio-economic conditions in Mozambique, The north of Angola has a surplus of New book explains Africa’s
but they are also likely to significantly impact more than 1000 MW of mostly renewable energy landscape
the entire sub-region positively. Gas to power power, whereas the south relies on diesel
developments will make Mozambique a generators. The project, once operational The African Energy Chamber has
reliable exporter of power into neighbouring in 2023, will avert the consumption of published “African Energy Road to
countries. Revenues will boost the entire 46,8-billion litres of diesel per year in the Recovery: How the African Energy
economy and lead to jobs in all sectors. south, cutting 80 Mt of CO2 emissions. Industry Can Reshape Itself for a Post
Covid-19 Comeback”. The book provides
an in-depth look at the current African
Fund to encourage innovation energy landscape through the provision
of resources including maps and graphs,
The African Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) has made US$1,2-million available to unlock detailed analysis of risks and opportunities
the potential of renewable energy to create new business opportunities. The Fund seeks to and key insights from industry giants
encourage innovations which reduce the negative impacts associated with the use of traditional which provide a framework for moving
cooking options at household and institutional levels, build climate change resilience among Africa’s energy sector forward in a post-
communities and support productive uses such as water pumping, agro-processing, cooling, and Covid-19 context.
refrigeration services. Businesses and entrepreneurs in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia,
Mali, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe can apply.

Egypt to build a new PV plant
on the Nile
Crowdfunding model to fund Electricity transmission network
solar PV systems to be increased The African Development Bank will extend
a loan for the design, construction, and
Although much of Africa receives abundant Nigeria plans to spend $3-billion on the operation of a 200 MW solar PV power
sunshine, few African businesses can afford energy sector over the next two years and plant at Kom Ombo, in Upper Egypt
to install expensive photovoltaic systems. end current electricity subsidies by December on the river Nile. The project should
A German company, Ecoligo, is working 2021. Those in the know say that the money lower electricity costs for businesses
to meet the challenge by financing solar will be used to increase the power being and residences, reduce greenhouse gas
PV panels through a crowdfunding model. wheeled by the country’s transmission emissions and create construction and
Businesses in Kenya receive a ready-to-use company (TCN) from the current 4900 MW other jobs. Total cost is estimated at
solar PV system and pay a monthly fee for to at least 7000 MW. Apparently, much of $156,4-million. Egypt’s electricity grid is
the electricity until the system is paid off. the money to fund this exercise will come linked to those of neighbours Libya and
The systems offer Kenyans electricity for a from loans extended by the World Bank Sudan, and the plant has the potential to
fraction of the cost of grid power and can ($500-million) and the African Development greatly contribute to energy trading and
be paid off within five years. Bank (AfDB). electricity access in the region.

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