Africa & Middle East

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

Smart energy and inverter company SolarEdge will acquire the South Korean battery manufacturer Kokam.

Streamlining red tape, ditching subsidies for bill payers and improving investment conditions could see Egypt become a multi-GW market for solar.

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund has rejected media reports that a multi-billion dollar solar programme has been halted.

Project developers have signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Malawian national utility Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi Limited (ESCOM) for a 60MW(AC) solar plant.

US government development finance institution Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) has committed US$25 million in financing to a fund managed by off-grid solar firm SunFunder, which will provide loans to companies developing off-grid solar products and solutions for Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

SolarEdge is eyeing a top three place in the utility solar market as it continues to ramp up its ambitions in the segment.

UK-based off-grid renewables specialist BBOXX and GE have signed off on a partnership to provide energy access for small businesses, schools and other organisations in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) has launched a tender for up to 1.5GW of solar.