africa

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.

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

Solar Media, the publisher of PV Tech, has identified more than 50 potential mini-grid projects in Tanzania ahead of its Solar & Off-Grid Renewables Summit in Dar Es Salaam on 5-6 December.

UK based firm, VINCI Energies has won a €26.9 million contract to build eight PV power plants in Senegal with a combined capacity of 17MW.

The German Development Bank (KfW) and the African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI) have set up a new credit facility instrument built to support renewable energy projects in sub-Saharan Africa that targets small- and mid-scale renewable energy projects (up to 50MW).

Italian oil and gas company Eni is planning to develop a 20MW PV project in the area of Tamale in the northern region of Ghana.

German company BayWa r.e. has commissioned a PV plant with a battery system in Zambia.

Enerray, though the company EB Solaire, is developing a 30MW PV project in Cameroon, with Enerray set to serve as EPC provider for the plant.

Solar finance company PEG Africa has raised US$13.5 million for household solar systems in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, which is expected to reach up to 500,000 people.

A report on the off-grid solar market has revealed that there has been a 7% drop in off-grid solar and home system product sales worldwide yet the market remains “buoyant”.