Friday, 19 August

Dear <<First Name>>

This week Vanuatu announced one of the world’s most ambitious climate policies. The already carbon-negative small island state is committing to 100% renewable energy generation by 2030 and pushing for a loss-and-damage finance facility to be established to support vulnerable communities.

Vanuatu is setting an example globally, but also regionally as the Pacific strategically aligns ahead of COP27. Nonetheless, the country has significant work ahead if it is to reach its clean energy target.

It is for this exact reason that we developed TIDES, a blended finance platform for the Pacific that aims to catalyse investment in zero-emissions projects across the full range of sizes, from mini-grids to large grid-connected systems.

If a country with negligible emissions, that is also the most climate vulnerable nation on earth, can commit to renewable energy deployment and addressing loss and damage, then so can we all. And as we hit planetary boundaries so quickly, there is no time to waste.

Cheers 

Geoff Sinclair

Managing Director, Camco Clean Energy

West Africa

Benin: Country loses over USD1.9 million due to gas supply disruption (ESI Africa)
- The money was lost over a 5-day period following disruption to the 95MW Ossiomo power plant's gas supply, which powers government offices, hospitals and streetlights. 

Cote d’Ivoire: China Energy Engineering Corp to build biomass plant (Afrik21)
- Electricity from the 46MW facility will be produced by disposing of 480,000 tonnes of palm oil waste, which will be collected over 25 years from farmers in Ayébo.

Ghana: Electricity tariffs to increase by over 27% (ESI Africa)
- The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission has announced plans to increase electricity and water tariffs in September by 27.15% and 21.55% respectively.

Nigeria: Husk Power Systems to power telecom towers using solar microgrids (Afrik21)
- The provider has signed an agreement with mobile phone operator Hotspot Network to provide solar power to at least 100 telecom towers, avoiding an expected 50 tonnes of CO2 per year. 

Nigeria: Federal government adopts Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (ESI Africa)
- The programme aims to promote clean energy technologies for sustainable start-ups and small medium enterprises to address the country’s environmental challenges. 

Southern Africa

Angola: Government commissions two new solar photovoltaic power plants (Afrik21) 
- The two installations will have a total capacity of 284MWp and the project is expected to connect over 1.8 million people to the national grid

Namibia: Green hydrogen project makes progress (renews.biz)
- Developer Hyphen hopes to sign an implementation agreement with the government for a 3GW electrolyser by the end of 2022 and begin project construction in 2025. 

South Africa: Coal supplier builds its renewable energy portfolio (ESI Africa)
- Seriti Resources has entered into an agreement to acquire a 51% controlling interest in Windlab Africa’s wind and solar assets as it moves towards a low-carbon future.   

South Africa: Amersfoort gas-to-power project prepares to launch in Mpumalanga (ESI Africa)
- The project will use existing wells to produce gas for an in-field containerised generator linked to the country’s electricity grid. 

East Africa

Kenya: Devki Group prepares to construct a wind farm in Kwale County (Standard Media)
- The power generated by the proposed 60MW farm would feed into an existing nearby sub-station and eventually into the national grid.  

Kenya: M-KOPA partners with Roam to supply electric motorcycles (ESI Africa)
- The large-scale supply agreement looks to lower the barrier to entry for customers across Africa by offering affordable payment plans.  

Somalia: Country launches programme to improve access to clean energy water pumps (ESI Africa)
- The Somalia, Water and Land Management Programme aims to enable rural farmers and pastoralists to collect and use seasonal rainwater for their animals and crops, reducing the adverse effect of droughts. 

Africa - other

Egypt: Government plans to issue tender for 280kW solar plant (Afrik21)
- The project will involve the construction of a plant at the Sharm el-Sheikh Museum, which would be used to power the tourist hotspot ahead of the upcoming COP27 conference.  

Pacific

New Zealand: Country looks to boost investment in Pacific climate action (Devdiscourse)
- The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Climate Change have released the Aotearoa New Zealand International Climate Finance Strategy which outlines high-level principles for investing in climate adaptation and mitigation, both in the Pacific and globally.

Vanuatu: Government commits to 100% renewable energy by 2030 (The Guardian)
- The already carbon-negative country has committed to phase out the use of fossil fuels in electricity generation entirely and the estimated cost of achieving this target is USD1.2 billion.  

Rest of the world

Australia: Government partners with Total Eren to develop renewable hydrogen facility (PV Magazine)
- The proposed Darwin H2 Hub facility would be built on a 4,000-hectare site and be powered by over 2GW of solar energy. 

China: Investments in large-scale solar increase by 173% in the first half of 2022 (PV Magazine)
- China has recorded USD41 billion of investment in large-scale solar, in line with the country’s strategy to build new renewable generation capacity to replace its existing coal facilities. 

Global: Metal roofing is ideal for commercial and industrial solar PV (PV Magazine) 
- Op-ed highlighting that metal roofing is the ideal host for mounting solar PV due to its durability, sustainability and versatility.

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