Africa & Middle East

Solar deployment worldwide was 59GW in 2015, according to provisional figures released by analyst firm GTM Research.

The International Solar Alliance (ISA), spearheaded by India, is about to take shape with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and French president Francois Hollande due to lay a foundation stone for the new ISA headquarters in Delhi on 25 January.

CIGS thin-film solar technology manufacturer SoloPower Systems has completed its first commercial-scale deployment in South Africa.

A “narrow focus” on the initial costs of energy storage is leading to misconceptions about the true value of the technology, a report has concluded.

The Gulf countries in the Middle East could reduce their water extraction by 16% and create 200,000 jobs if they meet their 2030 renewable energy targets, according to a new study by IRENA.

Algeria installed roughly 268MW of solar PV capacity in 2015, according to Algeria’s state-owned renewable energy research institute CDER.

UK off-grid solar firm BBOXX and Dutch social investor Oikocredit have closed the first ever securitisation of African off-grid solar arrays.

Saudi-based industrial conglomerate Al-Afandi Group has signed a property contract with the Yanbu Royal Commission in Saudi Arabia for the first phase what is hoped to become a 1GW integrated module factory.

Nanjing-based PV manufacturer China Sunergy (CSUN) is to target the Middle East and Africa after signing a joint venture with UAE’s Z-One Holding.

Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) has indirectly taken a major interest in PV equipment specialist centrotherm.