Africa

The Church Pension Fund (CPF), a financial services organization that serves the Episcopal Church, has invested US$17 million in a fund that provides loans to microfinance institutions, distribution companies, and manufacturers in the off-grid solar sector in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Chinese solar manufacturer Hareon Solar has approved a joint venture that could see it working upstream and downstream in Morocco.

A five-point Plan has been devised by The South African Photovoltaics Industry Association (SAPIA) to support development starting, with a target of building 1.5GW of PV annually.

Solarcentury is constructing a 2.35MWp solar project for a Tulip Cocoa Processing (TPC) chocolate factory in Nigeria, North East of Lagos.

African safari lodges are increasingly taking up solar and storage options, not only to minimise environmental impacts of diesel generators, but also to improve power supply reliability, which can affect customer reviews for these holiday lodges.

Tanzania's Rural Energy Agency (REA) will give the keynote address to around 200 public and private sector attendees at PV Tech’s Solar & Off-Grid Renewables Summit in Dar Es Salaam next week.

Robert Mugabe’s “resignation” after 37 years in power creates political uncertainty and possibility for Zimbabwe’s solar market.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can overcome Africa’s relative lack of financial infrastructure and unlock its solar potential, according to the CEO and founder of The Sun Exchange.

UPDATED: A 33MW capacity solar project is due to come online this week in Burkina Faso - the largest in West Africa.

Wärtsilä has been awarded the EPC contract for what will be the largest PV project in Nigeria.