Page 38 - Energize July 2022

Power developments in Africa

Compiled by Roger Lilley, Now Media

PV plant online, energy storage coming Hydropower plants for Africa
State-owned Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower) has announced the commissioning of Three investors are joining forces to develop
its 20 MWp Omburu solar PV plant. The Omburu solar power plant cost N$317 million, more African hydropower projects. British
than US$20 million, to build. NamPower also plans to install a 58 MW / 72 MWh battery International Investment, Norwegian Investment
storage system to Namibia’s national power grid from the Umburu substation. This project is Fund for Developing Countries (NORFUND)
supported by the German development agency Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), which and Scatec, a Norwegian independent power
is providing €20 million in funding. NamPower is expected to contribute 20% of the total cost producer, will work together on a significant
of the storage project. portfolio of hydropower projects (HPP) under
development in sub-Saharan Africa. These
Green bonds fund solar home Kenya joins EV club include the 350 MW Mpatamanga, the 144
Ruzizi III and the Volobé hydropower plants.
systems
KenGen, Kenya’s electricity generating Hydropower is essential for providing clean
Sun King has secured further funding for the company, is about to start installing baseload and peak power, particularly in
distribution of its solar home systems in sub- charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) landlocked Africa, as countries across the
Saharan Africa and Asia. Sun King (formerly in Nairobi. The facility will provide power continent transition away from fossil fuels to a
Greenlight Planet) distributes its electricity to recharge at least 50 000 electric buses carbon-neutral future.
access solutions primarily in rural areas. The and two million electric motorcycles.
company supplies systems consisting of solar KenGen’s managing director, Rebecca Financing renewable energy in
panels, batteries for electricity storage and Miano, says that electric vehicles, which Africa
energy-saving LED lamps. These solar home do not rely on diesel or petrol, are key in Investment firm Harith General Partners is
systems also have charging stations for mobile reducing pollution in the capital. KenGen joining forces with power producer Anergi
phones, radios and even TVs. The company is recently commissioned Unit 6 of the to launch a new financing mechanism for
raising US$17 million through two green bonds 83,3 MW Olkaria geothermal power plant renewable energy in Africa. The Pan African
issued by Symbiotics, an emerging market which contributes to the diversification of Renewable Energy Fund (PAREF) will be
access platform based in Geneva, Switzerland. the country’s electricity mix. capitalised at US$300 million. According to
Anergi, PAREF’s investments will accelerate the
Partnership for clean power delivery of renewable energy projects on the
continent through “innovative” development
A new partnership involving the Opec Fund for International Development (OFID), the United
Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative and financing mechanisms for greenfield
(SEforALL), is being formed to accelerate access to renewable energy in Africa. The centre will be projects or those already occupied by previous
launched at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in November 2022. The promoters of this centre investments. PAREF seeks to convert carbon
want to foster the implementation of new partnerships and financing mechanisms, including an dioxide intensive electricity supply sources into
energy access and transition trust fund to accelerate the deployment of available solutions. cleaner options and accelerate the adoption of
value-added electricity generation and storage
technologies.
Wind to power desalination Another solar plant planned
plant Microgrids to power millions
Namibian company Alpha Namibia
The Moroccan government plans to build a Industries Renewable Power (ANIREP) is Electricity access provider Husk Power’s Sunshot
seawater desalination plant near the city of to build a 18,5 MW solar PV plant in the programme is expected to provide access to
Dakhla in Western Sahara. The project will country’s Karas province. The area already clean electricity to 2 million Nigerians over
be implemented through a public-private hosts several renewable energy plants, the next four years. The company will deploy
partnership (PPP) with the joint venture under construction or operation. The 500 solar-powered microgrids with battery
Dakhla Water & Energy Company (DAWEC). independent power producer (IPP) has been storage systems connected to small distribution
The future desalination plant will be able to appointed as the preferred bidder for the networks. These could connect as many as
supply 37 million m3 of drinking water per construction and operation of the solar PV 400 000 households to an electricity grid. They
year. In accordance with agreements signed plant, which is to be located in Kokerboom, could also provide clean electricity to 8000
with the Moroccan government, DAWEC in the municipality of Keetmanshoop. businesses, 700 public clinics, 200 private
will power its desalination plant with wind ANIREP says it will invest N$300 million hospitals and 100 public schools and help
energy via a wind farm connected to the (over US$19 million) in the construction of replace 25 000 diesel generators. Over 90 million
electricity grid. the Kokerboom solar power plant. Nigerians still live without access to electricity.

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