Category Archives: Green Energy

Landmark for renewable energy in SA, with grid-connected battery system in Ekurhuleni

Ekurhuleni Municipality has approved the connection of a large solar PV plant and battery system, marking a landmark moment in renewable energy projects in South Africa.   The PV and lithium-ion battery system will form one of South Africa’s largest microgrids: a 1.8 MW solar PV facility alongside a 2.9 MWh battery, whilst being grid-connected […]

Africa can adopt renewable energy on a massive scale and save billions along the way

Oped by Kenneth Engblom Vice President, Wartsila Energy, Europe and Africa Africa’s energy future at a crossroad When it comes to building the future of energy in Africa, the decisions facing the continent’s leaders today are nothing less than of historical importance. More than anything else, energy systems are the very fabric of business and society. […]

Developing a quality culture across South Africa’s Solar PV value chain

By 2030, total installed PV capacity in South Africa is expected to reach 8,400 MW. However, if we want sustainable growth, we need to ensure that we develop and implement quality infrastructure for solar PV systems. “Embedding a culture of quality is vital if we want to unlock the huge economic potential of solar technologies”, […]

A Just Transition to Climate Resilience Could Transform Kenya into a Green Powerhouse

The Continent Is Highly Vulnerable to Climate Change, However, and Needs Significant Global Investment to Adapt to Higher Temperatures, Build Low-Carbon Economies, and Create Local Green Employment African countries face major climate-related challenges, but at the same time they have the opportunity to achieve sustainable low-carbon economies, according to a new report by Boston Consulting […]

Arnergy Launches Diaspora Initiative For Clean Energy Remittances

Energy startup becomes Africa’s first solar company to launch renewables payment scheme for Nigerians abroad Arnergy, Nigeria’s leading distributed utility company delivering solar energy solutions, has today announced the launch of the Diaspora Initiative – a groundbreaking scheme enabling the global Nigerian diaspora to invest in solar energy solutions on behalf of local individuals and […]

Gaia Africa Climate Fund selected by the ICFA Luxembourg to be accelerated

Cape Town, South Africa: The Gaia Africa Climate Fund has been selected as one of five funds to be accelerated by the International Climate Finance Accelerator in Luxembourg (ICFA). Being selected by the ICFA entails that the Gaia Africa Climate Fund – which was launched in July 2021 – will benefit from a financial award, […]

Gaia Africa Climate Fund selected by the ICFA Luxembourg to be accelerated

The Gaia Africa Climate Fund has been selected as one of five funds to be accelerated by the International Climate Finance Accelerator in Luxembourg (ICFA). Being selected by the ICFA entails that the Gaia Africa Climate Fund – which was launched in July 2021 – will benefit from a financial award, training, access to a range of investor […]

Zimbabwe’s Largest Tea Producer Implements Microgrid from DHYBRID and Blockpower

Project to be showcased at EM-Power in Munich, Germany, October 6-8, 2021 Tanganda Tea Company Limited, Zimbabwe’s largest tea producer and one of the largest on the African continent, uses its own microgrids at Tingamira and Jersey sites for secure and environmentally friendly energy supply since July 2021. The system consists of a megawatt-class solar […]

A Just Energy Transition as advocated by President Macky Sall, will benefit Senegal’s economy, and create jobs for its young people

African oil- and gas-producing countries have been facing increasing pressure this year to abandon oil and gas activities and begin relying instead on green energy sources like wind, solar, and hydrogen to help prevent climate change. Many of these African countries are pushing back, however, and rejecting the notion that their energy transitions should follow […]

Dispatchable Renewable Energy: An Answer to Load Shedding

In 2020, South Africans experienced the most intensive load shedding to date.  These crippling power cuts, which amounted to a staggering 856 hours, almost 10% of available hours, cost the economy billions of Rands. Poor performance at several power stations, including Kusile and Tutuka, resulted in a rapid depletion of Eskom’s emergency generation reserves. Furthermore, […]

Promoting the Pan-African Energy Agenda: H.E. Minister Bruno Jean Richard Itoua of the Republic of the Congo Reiterates his Support Towards African Energy Week in Cape Town

With an ambitious Gas Master Plan, progressive petroleum regulation, and a united stakeholder approach, H.E. Bruno Itoua is focused on making deals, and will promote a pan-African energy transition at African Energy Week in Cape Town. H.E. Bruno Jean Richard Itoua, Minister of Hydrocarbons for the Republic of the Congo has reiterated both his support […]

If you Boycott Africa’s Oil & Gas Sector, Africa will Boycott you

In a move to promote development and end energy poverty by 2030, the African Energy Chamber has announced that it will encourage African countries to boycott companies that boycott African oil and gas. With the international community pushing for a rapid decrease in carbon emissions due to climate change, there has been a significant decline […]

EnDev and the IKEA Foundation launch renewables project at Vienna Energy Forum to support smallholder farmers

EnDev is launching a renewables project in partnership with the IKEA Foundation on 6 July at the Vienna Energy Forum. This three-year project aims to empower the agricultural sector by working closely with smallholder farmers, agri-businesses and solar enterprises in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. The IKEA Foundation has provided an €8 million grant to support EnDev’s efforts to demonstrate the […]

Cape Town And Dubai Battle Over Africa’s Energy Future

Op-Ed by Duggan Flanakin, director of policy research for the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow.  It was quite a shock to Africa Energy Chamber Executive Director NJ Ayuk – and an even bigger shock to the Chamber – that the London-based Hyve group decided to move the annual Africa Oil Week from Cape Town, South Africa to Dubai. […]

New thermal battery and solar tech help mining companies get rid of diesel

247Solar launches HeatStorE™, a long duration thermal battery made for adding more renewables to remote mining operations, industrial and grid solutions than is feasible with conventional batteries Great Falls, VA, USA, June 24th, 2021 – A robust new battery from 247Solar Inc., a spinoff of MIT, operates almost like an electrochemical battery but has significant […]

Somaliland: Solar Power and Microgrid Intelligence for an Urban Power Grid

DHYBRID Technology Improves Supply Security to City and Port of Berbera Berbera (Somaliland)/Gauting (Germany), June 22, 2021. As of April 2021, the citywide power grid supplying the city of Berbera, home to the largest port in the area, is being monitored and controlled using DHYBRID microgrid technology. For this purpose, two solar plants with a […]

Africa Energy Week 2021, Taking Place in Cape Town; Will Focus on Investment, Oil and Gas, Renewables and Energy Transition

The African Energy Chamber is set to host the first-ever African Energy Week (AEW) in Cape Town on 9th – 12th November 2021. Replacing Africa Oil Week, the four-day interactive conference seeks to unite industry stakeholders, international speakers and movers and shakers from the African oil and gas sector. The conference comprises high-class networking events, […]

Winch Energy Launches Crowdfunding For Off-Grid Renewables

New clean energy opportunities in developing countries for UK and international investors Off-grid utilities provider, Winch Energy, is seeking to secure up to £1.5 million through a crowdfunding campaign for projects to accelerate the installation of renewable energy technology in Sierra Leone and Uganda. The Crowdcube campaign is part of an overall fundraising plan over […]

Net Zero? Not for Africa. Not Yet. Africa Must Fight Energy Poverty with Oil and Gas Development

By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber On May 18, 2021, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released “Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector,” which outlines plans for the global energy sector to reach “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Achieving net zero emissions means the amount of greenhouse […]

Solar Cow- a Samaritan for the Children in Need

The relief of indigence is the primary goal in bringing about a positive change in the lifestyles of children in Africa. To this day, 1 in every 5 children in Africa is devoid of the right to education owing to child labor. Since electricity is a dire need of people even in the utmost rural […]

Greenpeace and Western Anti Africa Energy Groups Take the Wrong Approach to East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) in Uganda and Tanzania

By NJ Ayuk, Executive President of the African Energy Chamber. If someone were to put me on the spot and ask me to name an environmentalist group, I’d probably blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, Greenpeace. There are obvious reasons for this: Greenpeace has been around for more than 50 years, and […]

African climate innovators lead Ashden Awards longlist

Ashden • Climate Change Charity Africa’s outstanding climate solutions lead the way in the longlist for the prestigious Ashden Awards, announced today (April 14). The annual awards, now in their 20th year, celebrate innovation that lower emissions while creating better lives and fairer societies. Areas covered by this year’s awards include energy access, natural climate solutions, regenerative agriculture, […]