South African utility Eskom and German Development Bank KfW have signed a US$100 million (~R1.35 billion) loan facility that will go towards improving the transmission network to support grid integration of renewable energy projects after 27 power purchase agreements (PPAs) were signed in April.
UK-based off-grid clean energy specialist BBOXX is partnering on projects in southern Africa with DC Go, a provider of affordable off-grid electrification.
Independent solar power producer Scatec Solar has confirmed it had signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) on three solar PV plants in South Africa totalling 258 MW.
PV Tech recently highlighted that the South African government has finally signed a total of 27 PPAs after long-running saga of delays.
South African court rejects bid to block US$4.7 billion renewable energy deals, Canadian Solar acquires a 97.6MW solar project in Argentina, Nigerian Renewables association decries solar import duty.
Eskom will sign the 27 outstanding power purchase agreements (PPAs) from South Africa’s fourth round tender next week, the country’s energy minister has confirmed.
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.
Whilst African solar is still firmly an emerging market, investors have confirmed that issues remain with development finance, insofar as it is holding back the market from truly taking off. Whilst development finance institutions (DFIs) are a crucial part of allowing the market to find its feet, the continent’s economic infrastructure needs to move beyond the realm of development finance for commercial financiers to be enticed.
