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Globeleq has consolidated its southern Africa focus – and substantial position in Mozambique – while Norway’s Scatec has sold down another of its ground-breaking projects, as the London-based developer bought a 75% stake in the 40MW Mocuba solar PV plant in Zambézia province.

London-headquartered developer Globeleq has signed a $72m debt funding agreement for its 35MW Menengai geothermal independent power project (IPP) in Nakuru county. A construction start is expected in Q1 2023, following financial close.

The $36m, 19MWp (15MWac) Cuamba solar PV project, which includes a 2MW (7MWh) battery energy storage system (Bess), has reached financial close according to developer Globeleq, which is in partnership with Lusophone Africa private equity investor Source Energia and state utility Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) (AE 452/11, 441/11).

London-based developer Globeleq and Johannesburg-based Sturdee Energy Southern Africa have been awarded two 15MW solar PV projects in the first tranche of the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (Esera)’s procurement programme for renewable energy. They are the kingdom’s first utility-scale independent power projects.

CFM’s appointment to manage the Southern African Power Pool ’s $1.3bn Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility could free up a decades-long blockage in the development of cross-border transmission infrastructure. How quickly this happens depends on the success of fundraising efforts in the coming months, and the willingness of utilities and finance ministries to make the RTIFF scheme work.

Kenya has put in place a green hydrogen framework giving impetus to a growing number of private sector projects that could drive capital-intensive post-carbon industries. African Energy rounds up the renewable energy-driven projects that are making the running in Kenya’s early-stage GH2 economy.

Hive Hydrogen has signed an agreement with Cape Town-based Genesis Eco-Energy Developments to secure 372MW of wind electricity for its multi-billion dollar Coega green ammonia plant in Nelson Mandela Bay.  

The seven memoranda of understanding signed by the Egyptian government on 28 February show new tax incentives are attracting interest. The MoUs add a number of substantial names to the roster of companies planning green hydrogen schemes, but less well-known names and local players are also on the list of those speculating on Egypt’s GH2 potential.

Climate Fund Managers and Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund have invested $18m in UK-based Konexa to finance the launch of its renewable energy trading platform, with Nigerian Breweries the first customer. Konexa initially plans to wheel power across the national grid to two Nigerian Breweries’ facilities.

After a difficult period of collapsing financing and often disappointing results, African biofuels investors believe markets are set to improve so they can launch new export and domestic fuel and power projects, write François Misser and Jon Marks

Saudi operator Acwa Power said the Noor 3 CSP plant at Ouarzazate would be closed until November after a leak in its hot molten salts tank used to store energy.

Construction of the colossal Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd) is slated to be completed this year, marking the end of one of the continent’s largest and longest-running infrastructure projects. However, it has come at the cost of heightened animosity with Egypt and Sudan.

The Swaziland Water Services Corporation (SWSC) has issued a request for proposals from consultancy firms by 23 February for the development of a 5-10MW solar photovoltaic plant. Letters of intent are sought by 2 February. The consultant will undertake feasibility studies and conceptual design work; carry out a transmission and interconnection study; conduct an environmental and social impact assessment; develop an implementation plan and carry out capacity building; assist with procurement of construction contractors; work as the owner’s engineer; and manage contracts.

The Kupinga mini-hydropower plant in Chipinge in the eastern province of Manicaland has started generating electricity, state-owned daily The Herald reported on 7 August. The run-of-river facility in the Rusitu River catchment area is generating at 92% of its capacity but is expected to start operating at its full installed capacity of 1.65MW by year-end. The project has been developed and is owned and operated by Kupinga Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of South African financial services group Old Mutual, under a 25-year licence issued in 2014 by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulating Authority.

Private equity firm Denham Capital and renewables investor GreenWish Partners on 22 June announced a partnership to develop, build and finance a portfolio of 600MW of renewable energy across sub-Saharan Africa by 2020. The capital commitment will allow the African renewables platform to carry out a $1bn project pipeline. In February, GreenWish launched construction of the Senergy II solar scheme in Senegal, in partnership with French construction group Vinci.