The distributed renewable energy (DRE) sector, necessary in a world with millions of people without power, is being held back by a chronic shortage of skilled workers. Indeed, Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) has just 16,000 people working in renewable energy in a region with 600 million un-electrified people, according to the founders of a new campaign aiming to fill this skills gap.
With Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) as its sole offtaker, the 100MW project in Amin, Oman, is said to be the world's first utility-scale PV project to have an oil and gas company as the sole wholesale buyer of power.
French power giant EDF has acquired a 50% stake in the Togo-focused unit of off-grid renewable energy specialist BBOXX, with EDF adding its financial clout to speed up solar home system deployments and its technical expertise to improve the energy storage offering.
EDF Renewables has commissioned five solar PV projects in Israel with a combined capacity of 101MW, including four projects with what is said to be the lowest-ever tariff agreed in Israel.
Akuo Energy and Norton Rose Fulbright reach financial close on 50MW Mali solar project, BayWa r.e. completes self-consumption solar project in Spain, Solar comes top in European survey, CDPQ increases stake in Azure Power.
An agreement to buy 75% of Korean battery manufacturer Kokam gives SolarEdge a level of vertical integration that could make the PV company a ‘one-stop-shop’ for customers, while SolarEdge could diversify into areas outside solar energy.
Tunisia delays 70MW solar tender, Greenko completes acquisition of Orange Renewable and agrees to acquire Skeiron assets, Northern Territory approves 25MW solar project