Page 27 - Energize December 2022

Power developments in Africa

Compiled by Roger Lilley, Now Media

Energy efficiency to reduce emissions Green street lighting project
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koïca) is to finance part of Morocco’s energy The city of Chefchaouen in northwestern
efficient buildings project. Energy efficiency is one of Morocco’s five strategies towards its Morocco will optimize its energy consumption
transition to a green economy. Some municipalities are working to promote energy efficiency in thanks to a project financed by the United
the management of public facilities. The country plans to create a green industrial ecosystem, Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF),
and to introduce sustainable modes of transport to reduce CO2 emissions. Renewable energy to combat global warming. The current
technologies of interest include biomass, hydrogen, desalination and marine energy. Morocco’s lighting system will be replaced by LED lamps
plan is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by over 45% by 2030. that consume very little energy and reduce
CO2 emissions in the region. This project
Hydroelectric project as a PPP Telecoms company to go is free of charge for the municipality, all
green reimbursements will come from the savings
As well as producing electricity, Kenya’s new made on public lighting. Financing models
hydroelectric project could also provide Vodafone wants to use clean energy to target inclusive digital economies that
irrigation to local farmers. It is estimated power its telecoms masts in Africa and connect individuals, households and small
that a new water reservoir could irrigate 400 Europe. As part of its Renewable Power businesses to financial ecosystems aimed at
000 ha of farmland. The project will operate Challenge, the group has selected four stimulating local economic expansion and
under a public-private partnership involving companies to carry out demonstration trials sustainable development.
GBM, a British engineering company, which of renewable energy generation at mobile
will sign a power purchase agreement, access sites on both continents. The telecom Investing in sub-Saharan
as well as a water purchase agreement company’s Renewable Power Challenge is companies
for agricultural irrigation with the Kenyan part of its strategy to reduce the carbon The US International Development Finance
authorities. The project will receive an footprint of its global operations through the Corporation (DFC) is investing $40 million
investment of about R50-billion from the adoption of renewable energy. In Africa, the in the Energy Entrepreneur Growth Fund
UK government. This project is in addition company operates in at least eight countries, (EEGF). Established in 2019, the facility
to extensions to the 40 MW Malindi solar including Ghana, Kenya, DRC, Mozambique, finances renewable energy providers in
photovoltaic plant. Lesotho, South Africa, Egypt and Angola.
Africa. This investment will allow the EEGF
UK supports DRC solar home systems to continue acquiring assets by investing
in about ten companies in Africa south of
A loan and grant of US$500 000 has been extended to solar home systems provider Bboxx to the Sahara by the end of 2022. Additional
deploy its energy access solutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The funding investments are needed to improve access
enabled the British company to distribute eco-friendly stoves in the provinces of Goma, Bukavu to electricity in Africa. Currently, 570
and Lubumbashi, where access to clean cooking is low, as the majority of the population relies million Africans do not have access to
on wood and wood by-products to cook food. The funding is intended to support a number of electricity, according to the International
climate change mitigation infrastructure projects. Energy Agency (IEA).

Rooftop PV for soft drink PPA signed with cement West African regional solar
bottler company power

Solar energy provider Distributed Power Egyptian cement manufacturer Suez Cement A regional solar power plant is to be built in
Africa (DPA) has signed a partnership Group of Companies (SCGC) has signed a The Gambia under the coordination of the
with Varun Beverages in Zimbabwe. The power purchase agreement (PPA) with Intro Economic Community of West African States
agreement covers the lease of a 2,5 MW Power and Utilities. The plant will have a (ECOWAS). This was agreed by officials from
rooftop solar power plant at the PepsiCo capacity of 20 MW and will be connected the national electricity companies of the
bottling plant in the capital Harare. DPA to Egypt’s national electricity grid. Under member countries of the Organization for
says the rooftop PV plant will supply 4,1 the agreement, Intro will develop, finance the Development of the Gambia River Basin
GWh of electricity per year, making it one and operate a solar power plant at the Suez (OMVG), the ECOWAS Regional Electricity
of the largest rooftop solar plants built Cement factory site in Ain Soukhna in the Suez Regulatory Authority (ERERA) and the
in Zimbabwe to date. The company says governorate. Work will begin early next year. World Bank who met in the Gambian capital
the solar solution would reduce its energy After obtaining the necessary permits, the Banjul. The plant will be built in two phases
costs and 2500 tonnes of carbon dioxide park is expected to be energised in the second on a 225 ha site in Soma, a town located in
emissions per year. half of 2023. central Gambia.

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