Friday, 11 February

Dear <<First Name>>

The first of two gender-focused forums that we are hosting with 2X Collaborative was held this week, drawing more than 130 people from across the renewable energy community.

While ongoing efforts to address gender equity in the renewable space are turning into positive action, a lot of the focus remains on strengthening female representation at company and institutional levels. This is of course very important and needs to continue at speed, but the role of women as end-users is still largely overlooked. 

Wednesday’s online event aimed to put female end-users in the spotlight, exploring the challenges they face and what needs to be done to ensure their needs are better served by the sector. 

The forum got underway with an inspiring keynote from Prudence Muchinouta, who left no one in any doubt as to the scale of the problem and the urgent need for more gender-focused climate finance. This was followed up with a solutions-focused roundtable discussion between an all-women panel of industry experts and a Q&A with the audience, before a final session of interactive discussions around key themes.

I would like to thank everyone involved for helping to turn the forum into such a meaningful event. If you missed it, you can watch the keynote and roundtable discussions on Camco’s YouTube channel here.

In the words of Camco’s Policy and Partnerships Manager, Ieva Indriunaite, who spearheaded the forum: “The enthusiasm, knowledge and insights that came out of the forum demonstrates that not only is there a will to do better, but a clearly definable path. It is now all of our responsibility to build on these learnings and drive the change that is needed.” I couldn’t agree more, so let’s make it happen!

Cheers

Geoff Sinclair

Managing Director, Camco Clean Energy

West Africa

Ivory Coast: Three sustainable solutions start-ups win investment (Afrik21)
- As winners of the MoonLoop Innovation Challenge, the companies will share a EUR5,000 prize.

Nigeria: Nile University installs 876kWp solar system (ESI-Africa)
- The Starsight Energy project will deliver clean energy that benefits students for years to come.

East Africa

Kenya: Kesses solar plant receives USD35 million loan (ESI-Africa)
- The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund will lend the money across a 15-year period.

Madagascar: Filatex makes energy storage acquisition (EngineeringNews)
- The company has bought a 41% stake in France’s Energiestro, which is developing flywheel storage technology. The company has also bought a 40MW heavy fuel oil plant, which it plans to turn into a hybrid operation by coupling it with solar power.

Malawi: Quantel begins construction of 50MW solar plant (PV-Magazine)
- The USD65 million facility is expected to be built on a 105-hectare site in Bwengu within a year.

Southern Africa

Botswana: Country seeks companies to build and operate 200MW solar plant (EngineeringNews)
- The Southern African country aims to complete the financing and construction of its largest renewables project to date by 2027.

South Africa: Cape Town prepares tender process for IPPs (IOL)
- The city aims to move away from Eskom’s monopoly and diversify the supply of electricity by procuring power from IPPs.

South Africa: DBSA calls for Green Fund financing applications (EngineeringNews)
- The fund will work towards a range of goals, such as financing projects and programmes that aim to reduce the impacts of climate change. 

South Africa: Tharisa mine to become carbon neutral by 2050 (ESI-Africa)
- Total Eren and Chariot will develop, construct and maintain a solar PV plant - initially expected to provide 40MWp - to supply the mine with electricity.

Africa - other

Africa: GEAPP and Shorlist partner to create renewable energy jobs for women (Afrik21)
- The new alliance aims to better integrate female professionals into the sector, creating 750 jobs for women in six African countries.

Africa: NORAD grants African Trade Insurance Agency USD56 million (AfricanBusiness)
- The funding aims to mobilise private investment in the renewable energy sector over a five-year period.

Gabon: Construction imminent for 50MW solar power plant in Oyem (ConstructionReview)
- The plant will support the country's ambition to diversify its energy mix in favour of renewables and away from diesel.

Rest of the world

UK: Funding auctions through Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme to be held annually, government announces (edie)
- The auctions, which until now are held every two years, are seen as having been critical in bringing down the costs of clean energy in the UK.

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