Friday, 01 October

Dear <<First Name>>

Regular readers will know that I am a huge fan of solar mini-grids. Their potential for delivering clean and reliable energy to rural communities at a sufficiently high service quality so as to promote the productive use of electricity - and thereby increase income-generating capabilities for end users - cannot be overstated. Although numerous barriers are still preventing the tried and tested technology from delivering at scale, I am convinced that it is a case of when - not if - the sector will truly take off.

Earlier today we had the pleasure of announcing that REPP has just completed a USD 2.1m loan to support Winch Energy and NEoT’s plans for Sierra Leone and Uganda's first large-scale mini-grid programmes. Both countries have amongst the lowest electrification rates in the world, with most rural communities dependent on kerosene, candles, fuel wood and charcoal. Once completed the solar mini-grids will supply power to nearly 60,000 people across 49 villages.

REPP’s loan was mirrored by Dutch development bank, FMO, and will enable Winch Energy and NEoT to scale up operations, which in turn will improve the likelihood of securing more funding and building further mini-grids - another example of how REPP is mobilising capital and transforming the market for distributed renewables. The transaction can now also serve as a template for the wider rollout of mini-grids in the surrounding markets.

Cheers

Geoff Sinclair

Managing Director, Camco Clean Energy

West Africa

Mauritania: New 10GW project could involve Africa’s first offshore wind farm (Recharge)
- A MoU has been signed with Chariot to develop clean energy farms in three areas across the country, including a 160km stretch of Atlantic coast.

Morocco: 10.5GW solar and wind project is under development in Guelmim Oued Noun (EnergyStorageNews)
- Impact investment company All On has announced a deal with Infibranches Technologies Limited which aims to help bridge the country’s energy distribution gap. 

East Africa

Burundi: African Development Bank grants USD29 million to improve energy access (Afrik21)
- As a result of this financing, 40,000 households will gain first time electricity access and the reliability of Burundi’s grid is also expected to improve. 

Somalia: Grants and technical assistance available for renewable energy companies (GBA)
- Renewable Energy and Climate Technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa (REACT SSA) Somalia are offering funding to promote further clean energy investment.

Southern Africa

South Africa: Norsk Solar sets up office in South Africa (GBA)
- The Norwegian IPP is expanding its global presence by setting up the new African subsidiary. 

Zimbabwe: Blockpower supplies hybrid solar power for tea farm (EnergyMixReport)
- This move marks the second phase of the power access solutions provider’s major self-consumption electricity project in the Chipinge district

Africa - general

Algeria: Authorities set to launch 1GW tender by the end of October (PVMagazine)
- The tender will finance 10 separate solar energy lots, ranging from 80MW to 180MW each.

General: GWEC Africa WindPower official launches (ESI)
-  The Global Wind Energy Council has announced its Africa WindPower initiative, which aims to accelerate the deployment of wind power across the continent. 

General: Baobab+ raises EUR10 million for solar home systems and digitalisation (Afrik21)
- Norfund and Baobab+ have partnered to provide countries in southern Africa with access to electricity and digital technology.

General: Sun Exchange receives USD2.5 million funding (EnergyVoice)
- ARCH Emerging Markets Partners has invested in the South-Africa based company through the Africa Renewable Power Fund (ARPF) to expand clean energy operations.

Rest of World

UK: Country announces clean finance investment focus (Afrik21)
- Ahead of the upcoming COP26 summit, Prime minister Boris Johnson has announced that over the next 5 years, 30% of UK investment will be directed towards climate finance.

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