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Kenya-based PowerGen has secured funds to develop a 120MW portfolio of commercial and industrial (C&I) and off/metro-grid renewable power projects, with an initial focus on projects in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Universal Energy Facility is aiming to build on the $13m already raised by attracting commitments of $54m by 2026 for new mini-grid projects.

A Gridworks-Eranove-AEE Power consortium, developer of three metro-grid solar PV projects for cities in northern Democratic Republic of Congo, has selected the African Development Bank as lead arranger. An initial funding round for $145m is expected to conclude within 18 months.

A permanent economic crisis characterised by inflation and fuel shortages is driving an unplanned green revolution in Burundi as consumers flee one of Africa’s worst performing utilities for the long-term security of off-grid solar systems. But even in this unforgiving environment some utility-scale projects are advancing thanks to determined international support.

Solar PV solar and battery capacity has already taken an important share of Mali’s off-grid commercial and industrial (C&I) generation market. The installation of these systems is likely to go further despite the inherent risks in the market.

Tenders for solar power with energy storage and mini-grids under the Global Energy Transfer Feed-in Tariff programme are expected to start soon, after two years of planning.

Pan-African private equity firm Inspired Evolution has closed the second round of its Evolution III fund, following on from its first $200m close in March 2023. Looking to build on its substantial support for African renewable IPPs, Evolution III will also back commercial and industrial (C&I), off-grid, microgrid and energy efficiency firms.

New York-listed miner Barrick Gold, one of Africa’s largest commercial and industrial (C&I) offtakers, has added solar PV capacity and battery storage to its Loulo-Gounkoto gold mine in western Mali and has started a similar project at Kibali mine in DRC, writes Marc Howard.

Solargen has commissioned a solar and battery energy storage system, bringing electricity to Uganda’s Bussi Island on Lake Victoria for the first time.

State utility Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has given African Energy an update on the progress of procurement and project milestones for the Kenya Off-Grid Solar Access Project (Kosap).  Under the first phase of the World Bank Group-funded project KPLC will implement 89 mini-grids in eight counties.

Kenya's  Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (Rerec) has commissioned the Mageta Island solar PV mini-grid in Bondo, Siaya county.

Nigeria's  Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has announced a construction start at two off-grid solar PV systems in the Federal Capital Territory, backed by $12.4m from the South Korean government.

Lagos-headquartered Nigerian Breweries has signed a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with local commercial and industrial (C&I) developer Daystar Power Group for a solar PV and battery plant at its Lagos brewery and head office.

Portugal’s MCA Group has started the implementation of its €1.2bn ($1.3bn) rural electrification programme in Bié, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malange and Moxico provinces. The programme includes the installation of solar PV and battery capacity across 46 mini-grid sites and 12 grid-connected sites.

US-based developer Husk Power Systems has secured funds from investors, which it will use to scale up its solar mini-grid developments in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Husk – which was established in 2008 – claimed its new Series D funding was “the largest-ever equity raise in the mini-grid industry”.