Friday, November 22African Digital Business Magazine

Tag: renewable energy in Africa

Flexible power technologies will make Africa’s energy leapfrogging a reality
Energy

Flexible power technologies will make Africa’s energy leapfrogging a reality

by Marc Thiriet, Director, Africa, Wärtsilä Energy Africa’s ability to leapfrog traditional power systems and adopt renewables on a massive scale is not a fantasy. In-depth studies from Wärtsilä have demonstrated that with the adequate support of flexible power technologies, ambitious renewable energy objectives in Africa are not only achievable, they also represent the soundest and cheapest strategy for the successful electrification of the continent. A new power generation paradigm perfectly suited for Africa There has been much discussion about Africa’s ability to 'leapfrog' the way power systems have been built in the western world. For over a century, traditional power systems have been based on centralised power generation, with a limited number of large thermal power plants pro...
‘Green affordable power in Africa is a must’ says new Power Up coalition at COP27
Energy, Kenya News, Nigeria News, Togo News, Zimbabwe News

‘Green affordable power in Africa is a must’ says new Power Up coalition at COP27

More than 600 million African people go without access to electricity, and more than 900 million are without safe cooking facilities. At the COP27 climate summit now happening in Egypt, Power Up -  a new campaign with over 45 member organisations, is amplifying marginalised African voices in pursuit of funding for green affordable energy, particularly for frontline organisations powering up communities most affected by energy poverty to build resilience and upscale adaptation efforts. According to the IEA, bringing access to modern energy for all Africans calls for investment of US$ 25 billion per year, which is around 1% of global energy investment today. Using the hashtag #GreenPowerisaMust, the Power Up campaign is coordinated by Ashden, a charity working with organisations in the gl...
Energy, Sierra Leone, Uganda News

WINCH ENERGY OPENS CROWDFUNDING FOR OFF-GRID RENEWABLES

Leading off-grid renewable energy provider, Winch Energy, has opened its crowdfunding campaign to fund solar off grid developments that will connect more people in Sierra Leone and Uganda to clean and reliable power. This campaign enables individuals to invest in Africa’s growing clean energy market via Crowdcube from as little as £10. Winch Energy’s work strives to help the UN meet its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), specifically SDG 7, which ensures universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services by 2030. With less than a decade left, Winch Energy is targeting countries in sub-Sahara Africa, which has the largest proportion of people without access to energy, to make the biggest impact. Moving green energy forward in developing countries  The COP26 summit in O...
Energy, Green Energy, South Africa News

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, innovative exhibitions, and one-on-one private meetings, with a golf tournament on the final day, providing a one-of-a-kind experience for stakeholders interested in the growth and success of the African energy sector. The African Energy Chamber (AEC) is excited to announce the official launch of African Energy Week (AEW) 2021, taking place in Cape Town on 9th – 12th November 2021. AEW 2021 will showcase the first-ever Afric...
Energy, Green Energy, Sierra Leone, Uganda News

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 the next two years and follows Winch Energy’s recent closure of the largest mini grid limited recourse financing deal so far, via Winch IPP Holdings. The London-based company has already received investment from partner ITOCHU Europe PLC and is opening crowdfunding alongside this raise to secure additional funding for new projects and future expansion. Founded in 2008, Winch Energy has offices in UK, Italy, Sierra Leone, ...
Energy, Green Energy, South Africa News

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 gases being emitted into the atmosphere would equal the amount being removed. Achieving this balance, the IEA maintains, would require more than aggressive carbon-capture measures: It would call for a swift and immediate shift from petroleum energy sources to energy provided through naturally replenished sources like wind, water, and solar power. From an environmental standpoint, this is a great concept. But we live in reality. And today, in real-world...
Energy, Green Energy, Nigeria News

Without flexibility, Nigeria will face difficulties integrating large amounts of renewable energy into the grid

Op-ed by Wale Yusuff, Managing Director of  Wartsila Marine & Power Service Nig Ltd As the largest economy in Africa, with huge gas reserves and high solar energy potential, Nigeria has all the natural resources necessary to meet the growing demand for electricity. However, the inadequate energy infrastructure still leaves a significant part of the population without power or relying on oil-fired back-up generators. If Nigeria can improve its energy infrastructure and unlock its gas-to-power generation potential, it paves the way to integrating low-cost renewable energy, bringing electricity and development opportunities to rural villages, driving industrial growth and employment, and increasing prosperity across the country. There is no doubt that gas has an important role to play in ...
Winch Energy Closes Largest Limited Recourse Mini Grid Portfolio To Date In Uganda And Sierra Leone And Creation Of A New Platform Winch IPP Holdings For Future Investments
Energy, Green Energy, Sierra Leone, Uganda News

Winch Energy Closes Largest Limited Recourse Mini Grid Portfolio To Date In Uganda And Sierra Leone And Creation Of A New Platform Winch IPP Holdings For Future Investments

Leading off-grid utilities provider, Winch Energy, has completed the funding for solar mini grid projects in 49 villages across Uganda and Sierra Leone through the creation of a new platform, Winch Energy IPP Holdings Limited (“WIPP”). The deal represents the largest mini grid financing portfolio to date, bringing together several major players in the off-grid space and was finalised on 29th January 2021. Winch Energy is owned by Total Eren, Itochu Corporation, Al Gihaz Holdings and Winch Partners. The investment comes from Winch Energy Limited in partnership with NEoT Offgrid Africa – a platform established by Meridiam, EDF and Mitsubishi Corporation. NEoT Offgrid Africa supports and accelerates Africa’s energy transition and already invested more than €30 million in the electrification o...
Janus Continental Group (JCG) Invests $13 Million in Highview Power as part of African renewable energy storage drive
Energy, Green Energy

Janus Continental Group (JCG) Invests $13 Million in Highview Power as part of African renewable energy storage drive

JCG’s investment arm Janus Capital takes stake in Highview Enterprise Limited. The deal will bring Highview Power’s cutting edge CRYOBattery™ energy storage technology to JCG’s core markets in sub-Saharan Africa. The investment will unleash the potential of renewable energy storage across Africa, supporting JCG’s wider growth and business goals in this sector.  Janus Continental Group (JCG), a conglomerate with businesses in the Energy, Hospitality and Real Estate sectors across three continents, has announced that it has invested USD $13 million in Highview Enterprises Limited, the developer of liquid air long-duration energy storage systems, called the CRYOBattery™. JCG’s subsidiary, Great Lakes Africa Energy Ltd (GLAE), will license Highview Power’s cryogenic energy storage technol...
Smart Power lights up Africa’s road to pandemic recovery
Energy, Green Energy, Zambia News

Smart Power lights up Africa’s road to pandemic recovery

Kieran Whyte, Partner, Head of the Energy, Mining and Infrastructure Practice, Johannesburg, and Marc Fèvre, Partner, London, Baker McKenzie. Across Africa, access to power is hampered by the lack of access to competitive funding, the dire state of the continent’s utilities infrastructure and the need for energy policy and legislation to be adapted so that it can boost investment in the sector. Post COVID-19, new solutions are urgently needed to address Africa’s power crisis and switch on a continent-wide strategy for its recovery and renewal. Such solutions must take into account the energy transition and in particular, the utilisation of renewable energy, the focus on smart power technologies and cost effective solutions, as well as the global drive towards a decentralised, decarbonised ...