Friday, 6 November

Dear <<First Name>>

In a world transitioning undeterringly towards clean energy, Africa’s abundance of natural resources has the potential to turn the continent into a global economic powerhouse. By adequately harnessing the power of all of the wind, solar, hydro and geothermal at its disposal, Africa would easily outstrip its own demand for renewable energy, leaving it with a huge surplus to export off-continent to Europe and Asia.

In the last few days, the African Union Development Agency and the African Development Bank released recommendations of a baseline study that looked into the development of a continental transmission network. 

While in the short term the focus must remain on ensuring clean energy access for all through all available means - including in large part scaling up off-grid solutions like solar home systems and mini-grids - energy planners are right to have their longer term sights set on developing such a network.

It might be a way off, but a single electricity grid providing clean, affordable and reliable energy could represent a genuine gamechanger for Africa.

Cheers

Geoff

Managing Director, Camco Clean Energy

West Africa

Burkina Faso: Construction begins on 30MW solar plant in Nagréongo (PV-Magazine)
- The project is being developed by GreenYellow and is expected to be commissioned in mid-2021.

East Africa

Kenya: Largest data centre in East Africa to get 1MW of solar power (Green Building Africa)
- The plant will help Liquid Telecom reduce the costs of operating its energy-intensive data centre in Nairobi by reducing its reliance on diesel generators.

Kenya: KenGen cuts list of bidders for 140MW Olkaria VI geothermal plant (ThinkGeoEnergy)
- Ormat Technologies, Itochu Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation and Enel Green Power are still in the running after a consortium was dropped off the list.

Sudan: Government and UAE sign MOU to construct 500MW of solar capacity (Arab News)
- The UAE will supply, build, install and operate plants for 20 years and will train and employ Sudanese workers throughout the contract period.

Southern Africa

Eswatini/Swaziland: Tender launched to deploy 850kW at King Mswati III International Airport (PV-Magazine)
- The project will be developed under the build, own, operate and transfer (BOT) project model and will be awarded a 20-year PPA. Interested parties will have until 22 December to apply.

South Africa: NERSA confirms approval of licensing generation facilities over 1MW (ESI)
- The ruling means the energy regulator may also process licenses for self-generation even if they are not in line with the Integrated Resource Plan.

Africa - general

Africa: South African telecoms group looking to deploy 175MW of solar power across continent (PV-Magazine)
- Royal Bafokeng Holdings has made a US$20 million equity investment with the aim of boosting solar projects in South Africa, Kenya, DRC and Zambia.

Off-grid: SEforALL backs mini-grid deployment in Sierra Leone and Madagascar (ESI)
- Companies seeking results-based finance for mini-grid projects can now apply for pre-qualification to the SEforALL-managed Universal Energy Facility.

Transmission: AUDA-NEPAD and ADB have released a study exploring the development of a continental transmission network (ESI)
- The study, supported by the EU, is the first step in an ambitious project to create an efficient, competitive energy sector in Africa.

Rest of World

Wind: Sector continues to show record growth despite global pandemic (Engineering News)
- Global Wind Council expects 71.3GW of new wind capacity to be installed this year - just 6% below pre-COVID forecasts.

Currencies