Africa & Middle East

Specialist bank Investec is investing ZAR8 billion (US$813 million) in South Africa’s renewable energy independent power producer procurement programme (REIPPPP).

Chinese PV manufacturers JA Solar and Powerway are to join forces to target South Africa’s burgeoning solar market.

UK based EPC Solarcentury has a formed a joint venture with South African firm Momentous Energy to form Solarcentury Africa.

Phoenix solar is extending the supposed largest ground mounted system in Saudi Arabia, at KASPARCH, Riyadh to 5.3MW.

Chinese solar manufacturer and developer NARI has formed a partnership with solar mounting supplier Powerway Renewable Energy to jointly build PV projects in South Africa.

German solar firm JvG Thoma is to supply an unnamed company with manufacturing equipment for a 10MW PV module plant in Nigeria.

French renewables developer Axuo Energy is teaming up with R20, the international environmental body set up by former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, to build 41MW of PV generation in Mali.

Europe needs to intensify its support for the Desertec plan to import cheap solar and wind power from desert areas or face escalating energy prices, the body behind the initiative has warned.

CPV manufacturer Soitec has announced the installation of a 25kW concentrator PV demonstration plant in the village of Usib near Rehoboth in central Namibia.

Construction of the 160MW Noor 1 CSP project has officially started following a ground breaking ceremony held on 10 May attended by King Mohammed VI.