SolarQuarter - Africa May-June Issue 2022

EMPOWERING, INSIGHTFUL, ENGAGING

VOL 1 | ISSUE 4

Africa

May June 2022

TECHNICAL INSIGHTS

WHY IS

Large Utility Scale PV+BESS System

I N T E R V I E W

ESSENTIAL FOR GRID STABILITY?

There are decades and decades of opportunities to supply power to communities that have no other source and will not be connected to the national grid."

TREY JARRARD CEO, Renewvia Energy

POLICY ANALYSIS THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR THE NEW RENEWABLE ENERGIES OF ANGOLA

CONTENTS NEWS

04 INTERVIEW

11

TREY JARRARD

12

RUPESH HINDOCHA

14

PROSPER MAGALI

CEO, Renewvia Energy

Group CEO, Starsight Premier Energy Group (SPEG)

Chairperson, Tanzania Renewable Energy Association (TAREA)

FEATURED INTERVIEW

15

HADYR KOUMAKPAI General Manager Africa, JA Solar

TECHNICAL INSIGHTS

16

Why Is Large Utility Scale PV+BESS System Essential For Grid Stability?

POLICY DEBRIEF

18

National Strategy For The New Renewable Energies

POLICY ANALYSIS

22

Things you need to know about National Strategy For The New Renewable Energies Of ANGOLA

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MAY-JUNE ISSUE 2022

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AFRICA NEWS MAY-JUNE 2022

PROJECTS >

South Africa Approves 15 Solar PV Projects under New Distributed-Generation Rules

Citrus Power Installs 2.3 MW Solar Plant in Senegal's Abdoulaye Wade Stadium

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has announced the approval of sixteen power projects with a combined capacity of 211 MW. Fifteen of the project applications are for solar PV plants and one is for a wind farm.

The new renewable energy projects are expected to operate under the regulatory framework of South Africa for distributed-generation power facilities. Twelve projects are expected to be connected to the national utility Eskom’s grid and the rest four will be linked to municipal networks in the Gauteng province. Among these four power facilities, two will be based in the City of Tshwane and the other two will be based in the City of Ekurhuleni and Emfuleni Local Municipality, respectively.

Turkish renewable energy developer Citus Power has completed the installation of a solar array at the Stade du Senegal (Abdoulaye Wade Stadium) in Dakar. Citrus Power has built the 2.3 MW ground-mounted solar facilities with Sungrow inverters and Trina modules. The construction of the solar PV array began at the stadium began in December 2021. The facility is built with 77 independent structures, each containing 66 solar modules. The plant can be operated in both on-grid and off-grid modes.

Savannah Energy to Develop 500 MW Solar Plus Wind Projects in Chad British independent power producer (IPP) Savannah Energy has planned to install 500 MW of renewables comprising solar and wind projects in Chad. The IPP has entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy of Chad for the roll-out of three renewable energy projects in the country. Savannah Energy will be developing two solar plants with battery storage facilities in Chad. The first solar power plant will be set up in Kome in the Logone Oriental region to power operations of the Doba Oil project. The IPP has also planned to build another solar power facility with a battery storage system and the same amount of wind energy to generate power for the capital, N’Djamena.

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NERSA Approves Cennergi’s 80 MWp Lephalale Solar Project Cennergi (Pty) Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of South African mining company Exxaro, has received approval from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) for the construction of a solar photovoltaic plant at Lephalale in the Limpopo province. The 80 MW solar plant was announced in 2021 to supply clean electricity to Exxaro’s flagship Grootegeluk mine in the region. The Lephalale solar project marks the first phase of the decarbonization of the Grootegeluk mine, which is operated by Exxaro’s subsidiary Exxaro Coal. Cennergi will sell the electricity produced to Exxaro Coal under a power purchase agreement.

MAY-JUNE ISSUE 2022

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MARCH-APRIL 2022

AFRICA NEWS

PROJECTS >

AfDB, MASEN, and Res4Africa Launch Solar Energy Training Program in Sahel Countries The African Development Bank (AfDB) group has joined hands with the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN) and the Renewable Energy Solutions for Africa (RES4Africa) foundation to provide solar energy training in five Sahelian countries. The recently launched program covers Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. The training program focuses on energy professionals and policymakers. It is divided into two stages; the first one is an institutional training course in June-July and the second stage comprises a vocational mini-grid training course in September-October.

Vantage Data Centers Signs PPA with SolarAfrica to Source Solar Energy for its Johannesburg Campus Vantage Data Centers (VDC), a US-based global provider of hyper-scale data center campuses, has entered into an agreement with SolarAfrica, a leading financier of solar energy projects in South Africa. Vantage has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) that will enable the company to supplement the local grid that powers its Johannesburg (JNB1) data center campus, which is scheduled to open in July and will run with renewable energy. Additionally, the new deal will further drive the development of solar energy in the Northern Cape region by supporting the expansion of SolarAfrica’s De Aar solar project. Vantage’s investment will help in the production of solar energy of 87 MWp capacity within SolarAfrica’s larger solar farm.

IPAR and CECI launched Solar-Powered Irrigation System in Senegal and Guinea The Agricultural and Rural Prospects Initiative (IPAR) has announced a project in collaboration with the Center for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) for the installation of solar-powered irrigation systems in two West African countries. The program which primarily focuses on improving the agriculture sector in Senegal and Guinea also aims to empower rural women in the region. This initiative is funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Canadian federal Crown Corporation, to the tune of 1 million Canadian dollars ($77,000). Through this program, IPAR and CECI will facilitate water and irrigation systems using solar energy and improve the profitability and working time of rural women in the two countries by 2025.

Ghana Signs Agreement with AfDB and Switzerland for Off-Grid Solar Electrification The Government of Ghana has signed an agreement with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Switzerland government to support the development of mini-grid and solar PV net metering projects in Ghana. The rural electrification project will benefit schools, healthcare facilities, and communities across the country via standalone solar-powered systems. Under the agreement, AfDB will provide US$ 69.88 million to Ghana, which will be financed by Switzerland. The financing facility is granted within the framework of the World Bank’s Scaling-up Renewable Energy Programme (SREP) which aims to accelerate electricity access in developing countries.

Senegal Inaugurates 23 MWp Diass Solar Power Plant BAT Nigeria Commits to Carbon Neutral, Invests in Solar PV Energy British American Tobacco (BAT) Nigeria has recently reiterated its commitment to addressing the issues of climate change and environment management while at the same time delivering a positive social impact and ensuring robust governance across its operations. The British multinational company has planned to become carbon neutral by investing in solar PV energy.

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The Government of Senegal recently inaugurated the Diass solar power station in a rural community in the Thies region.

Located 54 km from the capital city Dakar, the 23 MWp solar power plant is constructed and operated by Senegal’s national power utility SENELEC. The solar power plant is built at a cost of 13 billion CFA Francs (21.4 million dollars). The German development agency, Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) loaned a major portion of the cost to Senegal. The plant inauguration ceremony was attended by Senegalese President Macky Sall, along with the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

MAY-JUNE ISSUE 2022

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MARCH-APRIL 2022

AFRICA NEWS

PROJECTS >

Uduma Mali’s Mini Solar-Powered Water Systems Improve Drinking Water Supply in Bougouni

Africa GreenTec Launches Solar-Powered Impact Site in Senegal

Uduma Mali, the subsidiary of French Group Odial Solutions, has been awarded a new contract to manage drinking water services in Mali. The water service provider will install 75 solar-powered improved village water systems (IVWS) in several rural areas of Bougouni in the Sikasso region. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is financing the project through the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, RVO. The contract for 75 mini solar drinking water supply systems was signed by the managers of Uduma Mali and the representatives of the Dutch Foreign Ministry.

Africa-focused renewable solutions provider, Africa GreenTec has set out a different vision of electrification in rural regions of Senegal. The Germany-based start-up has commissioned its holistic and smart system solution, the ImpactSite, in Ndiob commune located in the Fatick region. The ImpactSite is a set of facilities providing essential services with the help of solar photovoltaic energy. In contrast to the conventional solar mini-grids installed on a huge scale in sub-Saharan Africa, the ImpactSite offers necessary services such as electricity generation, water treatment, cooling, communication, etc.

USAID Solarize Several Healthcare Facilities in Five African Countries The world’s premier international development agency, US Agency for International Development (USAID), is allocating a fund of $2.3 million to six off-grid solar energy providers. The funding will be utilized to electrify several healthcare centers in five sub-Saharan African countries. As part of its Power Africa initiative, the USAID is providing the grant to six Africafocused renewable energy developers which include d.light, Equatorial Power, SustainSolar, Aptech Africa, Havenhill Synergy, and Solar Works. The beneficiary countries are Kenya, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Malawi.

NERSA Approves Two Solar Power Projects by SOLA Group in South Africa The National Electricity Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has approved two solar power projects under SA’s new regulations which allow for faster and simpler license approvals for private power projects. These two solar plants of 100 MW each are being developed by the global renewable energy developer SOLA Group in the North West province. The two solar PV projects are the first private projects to be approved by the NERSA since President Cyril Ramaphosa removed the need for seeking licenses by independent power producers for building plants that have a capacity of up to 100 MW.

Microsoft Purchases Energy Credits to Support Solar Mini-Grids in DR Congo American tech giant Microsoft Corporation has made a second investment in Peace Renewable Energy Credits (PRECs) related to a solar photovoltaic project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since 2020, the P-RECs have enabled a new stream of private sector capital to support new clean energy projects in the DRC and South Sudan. P-RECs are designated international renewable energy certificates (I-RECs) with a supplementary label issued by the Energy Peace Partners that certifies the cobenefits associated with the development of renewable power in countries with high climate vulnerability and energy.

Octopus Energy Backs Xlinks’ Mega Solar-Wind Project in Morocco with Submarine Cable The British renewable energy developer Xlinks has joined forces with London-based investment firm Octopus Energy Group to support its Morocco-UK Power Project. The mega project is a renewable electricity generation facility under development in the Moroccan desert, powered by wind and solar energy with a battery storage facility. The electricity produced will be supplied to the UK via submarine interconnector cables.

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MAY-JUNE ISSUE 2022

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MARCH-APRIL 2022

AFRICA NEWS

PROJECTS >

Amea Power Reaches Financial Close on Zina Solar Plant in Burkina Faso

Gridworks and SPS Train Solar Energy Professionals in Seychelles

Dubai-based clean power producer AMEA Power has announced the financial closure for the construction of the Zina solar power plant in Burkina Faso. Amea Power is building the solar plant in the Mouhoun province through its fully-owned unit Zina Solaire in partnership with the Chinese company Sinohydro. The 26.6 MW solar project is being financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank’s private sector arm, the IFC-Canada Climate Change Program, along with the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), managed by Ninety One plc.

The Seychelles government is focusing on training professionals in the solar industry to accelerate the development of solar-powered systems. A training program has been recently launched in partnership with the British investment company Gridworks and solar energy producer Sustainable Power Solutions (SPS) in Seychelles. The island country has started moving on the path to increasing the share of renewable energy in its electricity mix to 15% by 2030. As part of its new energy policy, the government facilitated the training program for solar industry professionals, which will start as early as June 2022.

Saft to Install 10 MW Energy Storage System for Boundiali Solar Plant Saft, a subsidiary of the French group TotalEnergies, is going to integrate a 10 MW energy storage system with the Boundiali solar power plant in Côte d'Ivoire. Saft has won the contract for the installation of a lithium-ion battery storage system from the project developer, Eiffage Energie Systèmes.

Located in the Bagoué Region, the 37.5 MWp solar PV plant is under development by Côte d'Ivoire Energies (CIEnergies). It is the first large-scale solar power plant to be built in the country.

Gold Miner Commissions 10 MW Solar Plant at Evander in South Africa

Husk Launches Sunshot Initiative to Deploy 500 Solar Micro-Grids in Nigeria Clean energy solution provider, Husk Power Systems, is launching a new electrification program in Nigeria. The company has announced the program named ‘Nigeria Sunshot Initiative’, which is expected to reach 2 million people via solar micro-grid solutions over the next four years.

Husk is accelerating its steps to promote clean energy access in Africa. The Sunshot program will enable the deployment of 500 solar-powered micro-grids across Nigeria. These microgrid installations are expected to connect around 400,000 households to the electricity grid.

Africa-focused gold producer, Pan African Resources Plc, has commissioned a 10 MW solar photovoltaic plant at its Evander Gold Mines. The power plant is the first solar PV facility of this capacity to be commissioned by a gold mining company in South Africa. The EPC contract for the solar energy project was awarded to the South African subsidiary of German renewable projects developer juwi Group. The site establishment and construction work started in the first quarter of 2021 on the rehabilitated land owned by Evander Mines.

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MAY-JUNE ISSUE 2022

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MARCH-APRIL 2022

FINANCE, INVESTMENT, AND FUNDING >

AFRICA NEWS

EDM to Invest $40 Million in Solar and Wind Power under PROLER Initiative Mozambique’s state-owned electric company, Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM), is going to invest US$40 million in new renewable energy projects. The public utility has planned to deploy new solar and wind facilities under the Renewable Energy Auction Program (PROLER), in order to accelerate electricity access for all. EDM is going to add an energy capacity of 600 MW, including 200 MW of renewable energy by the year 2030. The information came from Olga Utchavo, EDM’s Director of Renewable Energies, on the sidelines of the recently organized hybrid entitled “Storage and Grid Integration of Renewables in Mozambique”, held in Maputo.

Engie Secures €10 Million from EIB for Large-Scale Off-Grid Solar Installations in Benin Engie Energy Access has signed a €10 million loan agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to support the deployment of large-scale off-grid solar installations in Benin. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Africa Energy Forum (AEF) 2022 held in Brussels. EIB has announced to provide the loan that will enable Engie to deploy high-quality 107,000 solar home systems (SHS) in rural areas of Benin. The lender said the funding provided in local currency would accelerate clean energy solutions in the country and improve access to electricity for 643,000 Beninese people.

Bboxx Gets $15 Million Loan from InfraCo Africa to Expand its Solar Business in Africa PIDG member Infraco Africa has signed a deal with the UKbased power developer Bboxx to provide a loan of US$15 million to the power producer for its Africa-focused solar business. The funding will help Bboxx in accelerating the provision of clean energy solutions to the people and businesses across sub-Saharan Africa. The financial support is provided by Infraco Africa’s sister company GuarantCo in the form of convertible loan notes. The loan will enable Bboxx to reach the underserved communities in Africa through its comprehensive management platform, Bboxx Pulse, which provides energy access to places considered too expensive or difficult to reach via traditional grid infrastructure.

Engie and Energy Web Launch Participatory Financing to Deploy Solar Energy in Africa

AGF and Ecobank Benin Join Forces to Finance the Green Economy through SMEs African Guarantee Fund (AGF) and the Beninese subsidiary of the pan-African banking conglomerate, Ecobank, have entered a new partnership to provide loans to several small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Benin. AGF is providing the portfolio guarantee line totaling 1.6 billion CFA Francs (US$ 2.57 million) to Ecobank Benin which will help the financing of the green economy and empower women employment in the country.

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Engie Energy Access, the subsidiary of the French group Engie, in partnership with the Switzerland-based foundation Energy Web, has launched a participatory financing platform for sub-Saharan Africa. Engie Energy Access, the leading offgrid, PayGo solar, and mini-grid solution provider in Africa has successfully launched ‘Crowdfund for Solar’ which aims to harness the potential of decentralized finance, bringing solar energy systems to energy-deficit communities. Engie wants to solve the problem of the lack of funds for solar energy-based electrification in Africa. The crowdfunding platform will enable access to high-quality, low-cost, expandable solar home systems for households and communities, accelerating the deployment of off-grid solar energy solutions.

MAY-JUNE ISSUE 2022

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MARCH-APRIL 2022

FINANCE, INVESTMENT, AND FUNDING >

AFRICA NEWS

CrossBoundary Energy Access Raises US$25 Million for Solar Mini-Grids in Africa CrossBoundary Energy Access (CBEA), the Nairobi-based project finance facility for mini-grids, has raised US$25 million from ARCH Emerging Markets Partners, Bank of America, and Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund to back solar energy projects across Africa. The new investment will leverage an additional US$25 million funding in senior debt to deploy a total of US$50 million of capital into CBEA’s future pipeline of solar-powered mini-grids. CBEA targets to deploy a total amount of US$150 million over the next two years to bring renewable energy to one million people in Africa.

EU Grants Nearly €7 Million for Ivory Coast’s “Promotion of Access, Smart Grids and Solar Energy” Project The Government of Ivory Coast has signed an agreement with the European Union (EU) and the French Development Agency (AFD) to finance an electrification project for the rural areas of the country. The EU is granting €6.89 million (4.5 billion CFA Francs) in funding to Ivory Coast through the AFD for supporting the electrification project. The agreement was signed between Adama Coulibaly, the Ivorian Minister of Economy and Finance, Jean-Christophe Belliard, the French ambassador to Ivory Coast, and Jobst von Kirchmann, EU’s ambassador to Ivory Coast. The fund is allocated within the framework of the Promotion of Access, Smart Grids, and Solar Energy project (PARIS).

BOAD Approves €38 Million for the Construction of Awandjélo Solar Plant in Togo The West African Development Bank (BOAD) has approved a loan of 25 billion CFA francs (~ €38 million) for the construction of a solar PV power plant in northern Togo. The 42 MWp solar will be built in Awandjélo town in the Kara region. In the recently held 131st ordinary meeting of BOAD’s Board of Directors in Abidjan, the Chairman of the Board and President of BOAD, Serge Ekue approved the loan for the solar farm along with two other loans.

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Four Impact Investors Back d.light’s New Financing Vehicle for Solar Home Systems d.light, the global provider of solar home systems, has launched a new financing vehicle to accelerate rural electrification in East Africa. Four impact investors have backed the special purpose vehicle with local currency financing. d.light has launched the Brighter Life Kenya 1 Limited (BLK1) mechanism in 2021 which provides funding to purchase account receivables of d.lights’ pay-as-you-go solar home systems in Kenya. The new financing vehicle, BLK2, is a replica of BLK1 that allows pre-financing the electricity access equipment for rural populations.

Alliance Allocates $50 Million for Renewable Energy Access in Africa through UEF The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (the Alliance) has pledged $50 million to its ongoing partnership with Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) to bridge energy access gaps and support energy transition programs in Africa. The Alliance is allocating the fund to support SEforALL’s initiative Universal Energy Facility (UEF). The UEF is a dedicated financial mechanism of SEforALL for financing renewable energy projects in developing countries, primarily in Africa. The mechanism provides incentive payments to eligible power producers that deploy renewable energy solutions with verified end-user energy connections.

REPP-Financed Clean Electricity Projects in Africa Reaches One Million People The UK-funded Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP) has successfully connected more than one million people with clean electricity in sub-Saharan Africa for the first time. Managed by Camco Clean Energy, the REPP invests mainly in small to medium-sized green mini-grid projects across Africa and mobilizes private sector development activities. According to the latest figures, REPP has provided access to clean energy to nearly 1,083,000 people through its diverse portfolio of solar mini-grids, solar home systems (SHS), and other isolated mini-grid projects, mainly in rural areas.

MAY-JUNE ISSUE 2022

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ACQUISITIONS >

TENDERS >

AIIM Acquires Majority Stakes in Three South African Solar Power Plants

ANIREP Wins Tender for the Construction of 18.5 MW Solar Farm in Namibia

The African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) have announced acquiring majority stakes in three solar PV power plants in South Africa. The private equity fund manager has acquired the stakes in the solar plants through its IDEAS Managed Fund. The solar projects will provide clean electricity for the operations of Harmony, a Johannesburg-based mining company. The plants will be connected through a combination of wheeling and behind-the-meter solutions, and supply Harmony’s operations in the Welkom area located in the Free State.

Namibia-based IPP Alpha Namibia Industries Renewable Power (ANIREP) has been selected as the preferred bidder for the construction of a solar PV plant in the ǁKaras region. The 18.5 MW solar farm will be developed in Kokerboom, a locality in the municipality of Keetmanshoop. The Kokerboom solar plant will be implemented at an estimated cost of N$300 million (~US$19.4 million). The Namibian subsidiary of the Canadian mining company, Dundee Precious Metal, is the off-taker of this project.

BTE Renewables Acquires Sonnedix’s South African Solar Operations Global solar energy developer Sonnedix has announced the ownership transfer of its South African operation to Pan-African clean energy developer BTE Renewables. The transaction includes the sale of Sonnedix Africa’s subsidiary, Sonnedix Solar South Africa Holdings (Pty) Ltd to BTE Renewables. Through this deal, BTE Renewables has acquired a 60% interest in the collective investment vehicle ‘Mulilo Sonnedix Prieska PV’ that owns the 75 MW Prieska solar project, located in the Northern Cape province. The rest of the 40% stake in the project is shared between Mulilo Energy Holdings (20%), Ixowave (15%), and the Prieska PV Community Trust (5%).

Bboxx Acquires Ghana-based Solar Solutions Provider PEG Africa UK-based cleantech company, Bboxx Ltd., has reportedly acquired PEG Africa, a solar power provider for rural households and SMEs in Ghana. This acquisition, if confirmed, will become a significant step by Bboxx to support its expansion in West Africa.

Bboxx, which specializes in the designing, manufacturing, and distribution of plug-and-play solar systems has purportedly offered US$ 300 million to the Ghanaian solar power start-up. The acquisition of PEG Africa is still subject to customary closing conditions, which also include an agreement with lenders.

Botswana Issues Tender for 200 MW Solar Power Plant The Ministry of Minerals and Energy in Botswana has opened a call for expression of interest from the independent power producers (IPPs) to build a 200 MW solar power plant. The Southern African country has set its target to boost power generation capacity and increase the share of renewable energy in the electricity mix. According to a government document, the scope of the bid covers financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of the solar plant by the selected IPP. The power producer will also be required to decommission the plant at the end of its economic life.

French Investor Acquires SunFunder to Focus on Renewable Energy Growth in Africa

Sao Tome and Principe Issues Tender for its First Solar PV Plant

French investment company Mirova, the subsidiary of Natixis Investment Managers, has acquired Kenya-based solar finance business SunFunder to expand its investment platform in emerging markets such as Africa. Mirova wants to accelerate financing of the environmental and energy transition in Africa and elsewhere in the world. Following the acquisition, the entire SunFunder group will be retained to continue high energy transition work and build emerging market platforms dedicated to renewable energy and climate investments.

The Government of Sao Tome and Principe has launched a tender to build a 1.5 MWp solar photovoltaic plant in the town of Santo Amaro in the Lobata District. The African Development Bank (AfDB) is financing the solar plant which is set to become the first grid-connected solar project for the country. The successful bidding company will sign an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract with the government. The company will also be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the plant.

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INTERVIEW

TREY JARRARD CEO, RENEWVIA ENERGY

In an interesting interview with SolarQuarter Africa magazine, Trey Jarrard, CEO, of Renewvia Energy spoke about the company’s role and expansion in Africa, along with the potential and opportunities of being a mini-Grid Solar developer.

Could you please brief us about your company and its role in the RE sector?

Renewvia is a global renewable energy developer. We started the company in 2008, so we have 13 years of history in the US and other countries. We’ve developed on 3 continents and 5 countries. We started in the Distributed solar space in the US and gained a tremendous amount of experience before expanding into Africa where we started in a new sector of business in the off-grid sector.

We now have 2 growing sectors of business, one in the distributed renewable energy sector where we are engaged by large commercial entities to design a renewable energy system that offsets a large percentage of energy that companies purchase from utilities. These companies can then own a large portion of the energy they need to operate their business from renewable sources. The second sector, the off-grid sector we are involved in both is West and East Africa, Renewvia becomes the utility for areas otherwise have never had a reliable and affordable source of power. We design, engineer, and build power systems and distribution systems that connect offtakers to our mini-grids. Renewvia off-grid generation systems grow with the communities and individuals as needs change.

As a US-based company, what made you decide to expand your services to Africa, and how are things going for your company in the region?

Initially, our motivation to expand in Africa and other parts of the world was to find areas where our power developments financially perform independently of any government financial incentives. We explored opportunities in Africa before setting up an organization in Kenya as our first country on the continent. Once we arrived and began evaluating specific opportunities, we realized what a significant need and greenfield opportunity the off-grid sector is.

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Renewvia’s presence is growing quickly.

Opportunity is finding its way to the company because we are executing. We are on the ground having built 22 mini-grids in communities across 2 countries serving approximately 20,000 people. Because of our presence, our structure, the backing of a US company, and over a decade of experience, we have a tremendous amount of opportunity finding our way to Renewvia which is providing a very rich and broad pipeline for the company to grow into.

Being a major Mini-Grid Solar developer, how do you see the growth of this segment in the region?

What are the potential and opportunities?

The growth and opportunity are immense. The need is such that hundreds of independent offgrid solar developers would have trouble solving it. There are decades and decades of opportunities to supply power to communities that have no other source and will not be connected to the national grid. The national regulators of Kenya and Nigeria have implemented structures that provide private sector companies comfort to invest funds long term and we believe there will be substantial opportunity to expand into other countries in Africa as these required international investment regulations are emulated in other countries where they are already successful.

In the next couple of years, what is your company's plan to support and promote renewable energy on the continent? Are you planning to expand your services to more African countries?

We are promoting renewable energy as a scalable solution for remote off-grid communities because new communities are requesting the same service and structure be brought to them as some of the neighboring communities have already received. On an ongoing basis, we are looking for opportunities in the form of communities that qualify with the criteria to enable Renewvia to develop mini-grids. We are supporting the effort in the same manner; we are building mini-grids and owning/operating them in the long term and trying to create as many efficiencies as we can to keep tariffs low and maintain a profitable entity. We do plan on expanding – we are constantly watching other countries' regulations. As soon as regulators of those countries implement the mandates in place that protect the private sector and allow us to operate in a way that gives us the protection of the asset, we will be able to operate in a profitable manner. We hope to expand in operate in a few new countries every year.

There are decades and decades of opportunities to supply power to communities that have no other source and will not be connected to the national grid.

MAY-JUNE ISSUE 2022

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INTERVIEW

RUPESH HINDOCHA GROUP CEO, STARSIGHT PREMIER ENERGY GROUP (SPEG)

SolarQuarter Africa magazine got an excellent opportunity to interview Rupesh Hindocha - Group CEO, Starsight Premier Energy Group (SPEG), and learned about the company, their projects, challenges being faced by the industry, and financing scenario in East Africa. He also shared his views on the future outlook of the sector and his company’s expansion plan.

Can you give a bit of background about yourself and the company?

I am currently the Group CEO of Starsight Premier Energy Group (SPEG).

Born in Uganda, I spent most of my younger life in the UK and after graduating from University College London with an Economics degree, I worked in Investment Banking in London for Barclays and Credit Suisse before moving to Dubai where I worked for Credit Suisse and Standard Chartered. My focus was always on a fixed income in emerging markets with a geographical focus on the Middle East and Africa. Once I left banking I wanted to focus on clean energy in Sub-Saharan Africa and I founded Premier Solar Group in 2017.

SPEG is a JV set up in 2021 between Premier Solar Group and Starsight Energy, to offer sustainable power and storage solutions to C&I clients in East Africa. We leverage the deep expertise of both groups to ensure we deliver the benefits of smart renewable energy through best-in-class tailored solutions for our clients. Our operating company in Kenya, Premier Solar Solutions, is already a leading solar PV solutions provider to C&I clients across the country.

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Premier Solar Group was founded in 2017 and is part of a larger group of renewable energy development companies, operating since 2014, with financing and development experience on more than 60 MW of projects across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia (including 30 MW in solar). Premier Solar Group offers end-to-end distributed solar PV solutions to its C&I clients in India, Sri Lanka, UAE, and East Africa.

Services provided include load profiling, structural surveys, design, engineering, procurement, installation, testing, commissioning, financing, operation & maintenance (O&M), and remote monitoring.

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Starsight Energy was founded in 2015 and is a leading C&I solar power provider in West Africa with 41 MW of installed generating capacity, 33 MWh of battery storage, and 16,320 HP in cooling capacity across 547 sites in all Nigerian states and Ghana. Starsight delivers an end-to-end service, from assessing a client’s energy needs to the installation and maintenance of a renewable energy solution to ongoing technical support. Starsight Energy has consistently maintained the highest ESG credentials. The Company is backed by Helios Investment Partners and African Infrastructure Investment Managers.

Please give our readers a brief insight into the recent major projects done by your company in East Africa.

Premier Solar Solutions has to date delivered 17 projects, totaling 9,418 kWp, to a variety of clients. A further 3 projects totaling 12,300 kWp are currently under execution in Kenya.

By end of 2022, SPEG will have delivered over 25 MWp of projects to our marquee clients in East Africa. Some of the larger projects we have completed recently in Kenya include an 1800 kWp rooftop system for UAL in Nairobi and a 1050 kWp rooftop system for Menengai Oil Refineries in Nakuru which takes their total system size to 1900 kWp over the 2 phases.

We also completed a ground-mounted solar system, with a sophisticated BESS unit from Rolls Royce Germany, for Victory Farms in Homa Bay last year.

the benefits (and limitations) of a captive solar PV system, together with tighter regulations around the quality of imported solar goods and the licensing of developers and installers has gone some way to improving the quality and performance of systems, However, regulators are still working on comprehensive solar C&I policy frameworks in each country as well as facilities such as net metering and wheeling.

Governments need to also take a look at how they incentivize the adoption of solar by the C&I sector by offering incentives such as import duty waivers. We are still a long way off from having an environment that is conducive to the growth of solar in the region as concerns still exist on the future of state-owned utilities should large energy users utilize solar as part of their energy mix. The best way of tackling the current challenges being faced by the industry is via regular dialogue between various stakeholders, something that Kenya is leading the way on in the region.

We are always looking for new opportunities within the Eastern Africa region and are currently analyzing South Sudan and DRC amongst others.

What are the challenges that the sector is facing currently and in your view how can they be tackled?

C&I solar is still a relatively nascent product in East Africa despite its maturity in other parts of the world. Initially, the sector faced reputational issues in East Africa with earlier systems not delivering to client expectations or the seller's promises. However, a combination of educating the consumer on

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What about financing in East Africa?

End client financing was a big issue when we first entered the C&I sector in Kenya and probably the largest drag on the growth of the sector. Things have come a long way with specialist solar finance companies opening up as well as companies like ours who offer both the technical solutions and financing to clients in-house under a “one-stop shop” model. Clients want a solution to expensive and unreliable power and the need to reduce our environmental footprints is fully understood in the region. However, clients want to focus on their own businesses and leave power to specialists. Solar is a long-life asset that banks struggle to finance due to the need for long tenors. Specialist solar finance companies or in-house finance departments are able to fill this gap and this has accelerated the adoption of the technology for captive consumption over the last few years.

What is your outlook for the Solar sector in the region for the next 5 years?

We remain bullish on the solar sector as a whole in East Africa. We expect the SHS sector to continue to grow and expect further traction on utility-scale projects. In the C&I sector specifically, adoption of solar PV has picked up significantly over the last 3 years and we expect that to continue as more companies look to lock in considerable savings vs grid tariffs and reduce their environmental footprint.

What are your company’s plans to expand your services in the continent?

We are in the process of operationalizing in Uganda and later this year we plan to enter Tanzania and in 2023 Rwanda. We are always looking for new opportunities within the Eastern Africa region and are currently analyzing South Sudan and DRC amongst others. Our sister company, Starsight Energy, is similarly expanding in West Africa.

Interesting Facts Premier Solar Solutions has to date delivered 17 projects, totaling 9,418 kWp, to a variety of clients. A further 3 projects totaling 12,300 kWp are currently under execution in Kenya. By end of 2022, SPEG will have delivered over 25 MWp of projects to our marquee clients in East Africa.

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INTERVIEW

PROSPER MAGALI

CHAIRPERSON, TANZANIA RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOCIATION (TAREA) SolarQuarter Africa magazine got an exclusive chance to interview Prosper Magali - Chairperson, Tanzania Renewable Energy Association (TAREA), and learned how TAREA is encouraging RE, the challenges being faced, the present situation of RE in Tanzania and how it can be improved.

Kindly tell us how is TAREA encouraging the use of sustainable renewable energy and environmentally friendly technologies in Tanzania?

One of the key tasks for TAREA is to advocate and promote sustainable use and application of renewable energy and environmentally friendly technologies in Tanzania. We, therefore, among other things, participate in policy and regulation dialogues with the government and other stakeholders to ensure a better regulatory environment for the adoption of clean and renewable energy technologies in Tanzania.

Our members consent to our code of conduct and vision to only engage in clean and renewable energy technologies in all of their daily activities.

We facilitate partnerships between local and international entities for the purpose of developing ideas and projects that contribute to the use and application of renewable energy in Tanzania.

Which have been the major successful projects carried out

by TAREA? Our advocacy that led to the government exempting importation taxes (duties and VAT) for solar and wind products is one of the projects that we are really proud of. The decision led to the successful and massive adoption of solar, in particular for lighting, in every corner of the country such that kerosene usage for lighting has dramatically dropped. Our flagship annual event “The National Renewable Energy Day” is also one of the success stories for TAREA. The event attracts national and international players and stakeholders in the renewable energy space to deliberate, showcase, and exhibit renewable energy technologies to the general public. The event will also run this year in November 2022.

| AFRICA

How is the present situation of renewable energy in Tanzania? How can it be improved?

Tanzania was among the pioneers and early champions to adopt and promote renewable energy technologies in SSA and it has remained so for many years. We have a strong political will and supportive government for the sector. We have a huge market for the technologies as over 70% of the population lives in rural areas with an overall electricity national connectivity rate of 40%. We have huge potential for hydro (7.5GW), Solar (670MWp with solar insolation of 4.5 to 6kWh per meter squared), Wind (1000MW with an average wind speed of 3 to 10m/s), and Geothermal (5000MW). Biomass contributes over 80% of all household energy needs and hence technologies for sustainable use of biomass are highly encouraged and promoted.

The decision led to the successful and massive adoption of solar, in particular for lighting, in every corner of the country such that kerosene usage for lighting has dramatically dropped.

What are the challenges currently being faced by Tanzania in terms of RE adoption?

In general, we have one of the best environments to promote renewable energy adoption in Tanzania. We only need to ensure our already-in-place-good policies are enforced and implemented. To attract more investors into the RE space, our policies need to be stable and predictable. This is the work that TAREA and other stakeholders are working on to make our politicians and the public sector align.

What is TAREA's goal for the next couple of years?

My vision is to make TAREA a one-stop shop for all RE information, data, research, partnerships, collaborations, etc. We want to have a strong voice in energy planning activities in the country. This is the goal for TAREA in the next couple of years.

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FEATURED INTERVIEW

HADYR KOUMAKPAI

GENERAL MANAGER AFRICA, JA SOLAR AFRICA INDUSTRIALIZATION GROWTH SOLUTION AT FINGERTIPS WITH JA SOLAR TECHNOLOGY

With your strong presence in the African region, please tell us how different is the Africa PV module market from the other markets?

Africa is the second most populated continent after Asia, with one of the richest solar resources on the planet. The PV module market in Africa is unique with many diversities. To begin with, according to Africa Development Bank, the Electricity Access is just slightly over 40% in terms of grid coverage which at times is not functioning. Also, Africa has 54 countries with different policies and regulations.

Therefore, it is required to have a clear understanding of and a dedicated approach to the market which required a lot of resources.

What have been some of the new technology trends in the module industry and how has JA Solar geared up for the same?

Our R&D is in constant development of new technology for a continuous improvement of quality, currently, the demand for higher power and higher density modules has been growing across the global PV market including Africa. My view is with the growth of the industry, product reliability should be a new concept that should be advocated. As a leading technology supplier, we are specialized in rolling up the improved versions of any mature technology trends.

In 2020 we developed our DeepBlue 3.0 series module based on PERCIUM+ technology and 182mm wafer improved using Gallium doped patented technology to ensure a lower degradation with a greater performance in reliability, conversion efficiency, and power generation. It took a few months for the entire industry to adopt this technology due to its reliability.

| AFRICA

Now as the trend is moving towards the n-type, we have launched our new DeepBlue 4.0X, an improved version of the n-type series using our own BYCIUM+ cell technology based on the 182mm low-oxygen wafers with 24.8 % cell efficiency. The product also uses Gapless Flexible Interconnection (GFI) patented technology to address the mechanical stress and micro crack challenge in high-power modules. DeepBlue 4.0X is available in 54-cell, 72-cell, 78-cell, mono facial and bifacial configurations.

Being a leading producer of PV modules, please tell us how your PV modules are best suited to the African market?

JA Solar has always adhered to the product design concept of “customer-oriented” and we have developed a wide range of products for residential, commercial and utility-scale PV projects application. Our product from DeepBlue 3.0 to DeepBlue 4.0 X provides strong stability, and reliability, to our customers and has passed all the required tests to guarantee a fantastic performance under different African climates. That is also justified by the positive feedback we are getting from our customers on the continent even after 7 years of installation.

In addition, Africa’s economy is growing rapidly, and in 2019 manufacturing sector growth rate is around 39% according to the World Bank, on the other hand, the energy deficit is quite considerable. Therefore, it is important for the government to allow industries to source their own power to improve their cost of production in order to be competitive. With solar technology today providing the best LCOE (Leverage Cost of Electricity) the solution for this manufacturing sector competitiveness is at the finger’s tips.

How do you see the African market evolving this year and how is JA solar preparing for it?

African nations are accelerating their use of renewable energy to power their economies and more countries are joining south Africa in the yearly 0.5GW+ market of installed solar capacity. The PV market is now dominated by the p-type modules but now with the introduction of n-type modules, the market will start shifting to this new technology.

Considering supply chain transition time, the ptype modules will still dominate in the coming years. JA Solar takes a remarkable market share and has deployed over 2GW across Africa. Our team is also growing across Africa and together with our partners, we try to cover and provide a closer service to customers across the continent. The African market has been resilient to challenges and difficulties including climate change, and we believe that the solar growth on the continent cannot be stopped.

Lastly, please tell us what milestones you are planning for this year?

Despite the negative COVID-19 impacts on the continent, JA Solar has seen over 50% growth in 2020 and 2021. This year the world is facing another new challenge that is impacting on global supply, provoking the increase in the energy cost and inflation in most of the Africa countries, even so, we anticipate having 20% market share and at least 25% growth compared to 2021.

As a leading technology supplier, we are specialized in rolling up the improved versions of any mature technology trends.

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TECHNICAL INSIGHTS

Why Is Large Utility Scale PV+BESS System Essential For Grid Stability?

Variable renewable energy (VRE) sources such as solar and wind require a flexible approach energy system to ensure that VRE sources are protected and that they are seamlessly integrated in a reliable and efficient manner.

One of the most important developments in battery storage is its emergence as one of the potential solutions to increase system flexibility.

Their unique ability to adapt allows them flexibility, rapidly absorb, hold and then reinject the electricity. We can distinguish battery storage systems as in-front the meter (FTM), or behind-the-meter (BTM).

FTM batteries are connected with distribution or transmission networks in connection with a generation asset. Their application is required by system operators, such as ancillary services or network load relief.

BTM batteries are interconnected behind utility meters such as residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The primary goal is to lower your electricity bill.

Utility-scale battery storage systems are now available from a few megawatt-hours to hundreds of MWh. There are many battery storage options, including Li-ion, Sodium Sulfur, and Lead Acid batteries that can be used in grid applications. However, in recent years, most of the market growth has been seen in Liion batteries. Li-ion batteries in storage have been an important driver of capacity enhancements. large-scale stationary battery storage currently dominates deployment in terms of energy storage capacity. Deployment of small-scale battery storage has been increasing as well. | AFRICA

Services Offered By Utility-Scale Batteries Utility-scale battery storage systems can provide key services that are needed for the operation of a system with high shares of VRE. Frequency regulation

Utility-scale battery storage systems can provide utility frequency regulation services. An imbalance between the power supply and the power demand can lead to a dip or a rise in grid frequency beyond or below the permissible limits. Conventionally thermal power plants, synchronous generators, etc have provided support as grid frequency control services. But the conventional frequency control services are inefficient in terms of high cost and response time. Conventional frequency control mechanisms can take several seconds to minutes to respond to system operators’ instructions for frequency response. Whereas utility-scale battery storage systems can typically respond to such requirements within milliseconds.

Frequency regulation

When solar energy sources share an increase in the total grid energy mix, the shape of the load curve changes to a typical solar duck curve. The duck curve is characterized by a very high ramping requirement in a specific duration for grid stability.

The system is required to ramp downwards in the morning when solar generation increases and ramp upwards in the evening when solar generation decreases and demand increases.

Large solar utility-scale battery energy storage systems can be utilized for ramping requirements and flatten the load duck curve.

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Impact on the duck curve of energy storage providing flexible ramping, using as an example of a 3 MW feeder.

SOURCE: IRENA, SUNVERGE (2015)

Reduced renewable energy curtailment for Solar energy generators

Black start services

The power which is required to restore different generating plants in the event of grid failure, is called black start services.

Conventionally co-located diesel generators (DG) are used to start a thermal power plant in the event of a black start.

Co-located large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) can also be used as black start services in the event of a black start.

As solar power plants are characterized by peak load power plants, solar energy has to be consumed at the time of its generation. Due to this drawback, sometimes system operators have to curtail excessive solar energy generation for grid stability. Utility-scale battery energy storage systems could be the solution to reducing the curtailment of this variable renewable energy from the grid. The excessive variable renewable energy could be stored in utility-scale BESS systems, which could be sold at night time or during peak demand times.

Different Applications Of Solar + Large Scale Battery Storage System In Africa

Utility Scale Battery

Location

Service Provide

Description

28.5 Mwp Solar Farm + 50Mw/10 Mwh Li-ion BESS system in Malawi

Debza district, Malawi

Frequency Response Capacity Firming

The battery will smooth out intermittency of the solar farm as well as provide frequency response services to the country’s electricity grid.

Approval of World Bank to install 205 (Mwh) BESS system in three different substations under west Africa power pool (WAPP)

The substations will be located in Cote d'ivoire (105Mwh), Mali (80Mwh), Niger (20 Mwh)

Frequency Response

The 205 Mwh battery storage systems provide frequency control to the WAPP power system.

25 Mwp Solar + 25Mwh BESS system in Central Africa Republic (CAR)

Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR)

Capacity Firming

The plant aims to strengthen the transmission and distribution networks and capacity building.

300Mw solar + Battery storage capacity in Chad

Doba oil project, towns of Moundou & Doba

Capacity Firming

The project will supply clean energy with a lower tariff rate to the Doba oil project and towns of Moundou and Doba in southern Chad.

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POLICY DEBRIEF

National Strategy For The New Renewable Energies ANGOLA The Ministry of Energy and Water (MINEA) of the Republic of Angola has a specific policy for new renewable energy named “National Strategy For The New Renewable Energies” effective up to the year 2025. The strategic policy is mainly aimed at promoting new sources of renewable energy, in particular, small hydro, wind, solar, and biomass energy. The electricity regulatory authority of Angola is the Institute of Electricity Sector (IRSE). It has jurisdiction over all the regulatory activity of electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and sale. In the absence of any specific law for new renewable energy sources, law 256/11 encourages the entry of multiple solar power generation players into the market. Electricity trading markets like tradable Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) or Carbon Credits are coordinated by a designated national authority (DNA) of Angola.

Major Strategic

Target And Goals

The government of Angola through the present strategy sets a target for 2025 that at least 7.5% of the electricity generated in the country will come from new renewable energy sources, of which will be 800MW of installation.

To improve the energy accessibility in rural villages, the government aims to extend the “Solar Villages” program and create the National Institute For Rural Electrification (INEL) at the level of community and public services. By 2025, the government aims to establish “Solar or Renewable Villages” in 500 cities, with more than 10 MW of solar energy and 50 systems based on micro or picohydro.

To cater to the domestic use of solar systems, the government has a target of 1MW/year in individual solar systems and for most remote rural areas with very limited buying power, distribution of 1,00,000 improved ovens and 5,00,000 solar flashlights by 2025.

With a global annual horizontal solar irradiation (GHI) between 1,370 and 2,100 kWh/m3/year, Angola has the potential to install more than 17.3GW of solar power. In view of the above assessment, the government set a target of 100MW of solar energy plants, of which 10MW are off-grid. Also building one factory for PV panel production is on the government's agenda.

To approve subsidized tariffs (Feed-In Tariff) for renewable power plants up to 10MW and to revise the taxation system.

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CAMEROON Cameroon’s Recent Tax Exemption On Renewable Energy In view of hydropower’s limitation for lack of water in drought-starved countries, Cameroon encourages investors to grow a more stable solar energy supply. Cameroon has initiated several incentives for the solar energy sector like ten years elimination of several taxes for new solar plants which includes stamp duty exemption, exemption on equipment used to build renewable energy (RE) projects, and reduction in custom duties on imported RE products.

Renewable Energy Plan In Cameroon Cameroon is home to a large hydropower resource, but inconsistent energy distribution. Only 20% have access to the national network, and there are no connections to other countries. Cameroon has to diversify its energy mix by incorporating renewables to improve the economy and standards. Cameroon is a signatory of the Paris Climate Agreement. It ratified it in 2016 and has promised to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2035. With 4.5kWh/m2/day of solar irradiation in the South and approximately 5.7kWh/m2/day in the North, with the highest values in the far north region, Cameroon has a very high potential for solar energy. However, solar energy has not been well tapped into and there are currently plans to exploit this area. Cameroon's government plans to include renewable energy in its energy mix, as they currently only cover 1% of the country’s electricity demand. It has committed to increasing the contribution of renewable energy to the electricity supply from the current of less than 1% to 25% by 2035. The distribution of the energy mix will be 1% for wind, 6% for solar photovoltaic, 7% for biomass, and 11% for HEP energy. The nodal agency for RE power implementation in the country is the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy.

CENTRAL AFRICA REPUBLIC World Bank Approved $138 Million Grant For The Electricity Sector Strengthening and Access Project The World Bank approved a $138 Million grant today to improve living conditions in the Central African Republic. Funded by an $83,000,000 grant from IDA, a $30,000,000 grant from Green Climate Fund, and $70,000,000 in private finance, it will be used for the Electricity Sector Strengthening and Access Project. $70 Million in financing for the Health Service Delivery and System Strengthening Project (SENI+), which includes a $58M grant from IDA and a $12M grant from Global Financing Facility for Women, Children, and Adult. | AFRICA

The Electricity Sector Strengthening and Access Project (PARSE) It is designed to provide solar generation and upgrade the transmission and distribution networks for renewable energy integration and greater access. This component supports the supply and installation of five mini-grids totaling 10 MW that will serve 20,000 households within the cities of Nola Bouar, Bossembele, and Bangassou. Additionally, the transmission network is strengthened through rehabilitation and construction works. The Danzi solar plant will have a capacity increase of 25 MW to 40MW. This will enable 20,000 households to be connected in Bangui. The project will supply off-grid solar systems to households, 300 educational institutions, 300 health centers, and approximately 100 public buildings. It will also retrofit 100 community drinking water points with solar energy.

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CHAD The Chad Energy Access Scale-Up Project (PAAET) It is designed to increase electricity access and clean cooking solutions through the expansion of the main grid and mini-grids. It also includes standalone solar systems, improved stoves, and natural resource management. It will improve electricity access in N'Djamena (the capital) and in 12 secondary towns in which the national power company Societe Nate d'Electricite(SNE) operates mini-grids. In addition, access to electricity services will be provided in secondary villages and cities, including those near refugee camps. Public and private investment will improve the country's power generation, storage, and distribution capabilities.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC) BGFA Announces Fourth Round of Funding for Off-Grid Solar Energy Providers in the DRC The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) is going to open funding round in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to support electrification through clean off-grid energy solutions. The multi-year funding facility will be launching the call for proposals for off-grid solar energy providers on 21 June 2022. The funding round was launched at the BGFA Steering Committee meeting related to the DRC Country Program. This is BGFA’s fourth Call for Proposals (BGFA4) which aims to incentivize off-grid renewable energy solutions in sub-Saharan Africa. The funding round worth €15 million is supported by Sweden, through its financial arm, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The initiative aims to support the suppliers of solar home systems, solar mini-grids, and other solarpowered products in the DRC. It will focus on accelerating the entry and development of commercially-viable businesses in the country.

GABON Gabon seeks to strengthen its partnership with India in renewable energy Gabon is looking for a close partnership with India during India's VicePresident M.Venkaiah Naidu’s visit to the nation. The country is truly looking for enhancing its partnership with India, especially in the energy sector. Gabon also expressed its interest in skill development and solar alliance with India. | AFRICA

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SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Action Plans for Sao Tome e Principe The sustainable industrial and socio-economic growth of Sao Tome and Principe is dependent upon reforming the energy sector and moving from a reliance almost entirely on fossil fuels, to renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE). However, introducing RE or EE products and/or services to the market is complicated by a variety of supply-side and demand-side obstacles that must be addressed simultaneously.

The STP Government has created the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) and National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) to address these barriers. They are part of the project: "Strategic Program to promote renewable energy investments in the electricity sector" These plans were developed under the direction of the General Directorate of Natural Resources and Energy of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Natural Resources and the National Sustainable Energy Platform. The targets in the NEEAP/NREAP were validated and approved by the STP Government. This process was coordinated by the United Nations Development Program, the World Bank (WB), and the African Development Bank(AfDB), among others.

NREAP, NEEAP, and other tools provide practical guidance to the Government on how to make the energy transformation a reality between 2030 and 2050. The NREAP/NEEAP are based on energy modeling using Low Emissions Analysis Platform software. They propose a low carbon scenario that will dramatically reduce the country's energy costs as well as greenhouse gas (GHG)emissions.

RWANDA National Strategy For Transformation (NST1) National Strategy for Transformation (NST1) sets out a goal to provide universal electricity access for all Rwandans by 2024. The plan is that 52% of the energy will be generated from the grid, and 48% will come from the off-grid.

It was stressed that the private sector and partners in development are vital tools for achieving the 100% access target by 2024. | AFRICA

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POLICY ANALYSIS

Things you need to know about National Strategy For The New Renewable Energies Of ANGOLA The Ministry of Energy and Water (MINEA) of the Republic of Angola has a specific policy for new renewable energy named “National Strategy For The New Renewable Energies” effective up to the year 2025. The strategic policy is mainly aimed at promoting new sources of renewable energy, in particular, small hydro, wind, solar, and biomass energy. The electricity regulatory authority of Angola is the Institute of Electricity Sector (IRSE). It has jurisdiction over all the regulatory activity of electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and sale. In the absence of any specific law for new renewable energy sources, law 256/11 encourages the entry of multiple solar power generation players into the market. Electricity trading markets like tradable Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) or Carbon Credits are coordinated by a designated national authority (DNA) of Angola.

Major Strategic

TARGET AND GOALS

Electricity Generated

Rural Villages

The government of Angola through the present strategy sets a target for 2025 that at least 7.5% of the electricity generated in the country will come from new renewable energy sources, of which will be 800MW of installation.

To improve the energy accessibility in rural villages, the government aims to extend the “Solar Villages” program and create the National Institute For Rural Electrification (INEL) at the level of community and public services.

Target With a global annual horizontal solar irradiation (GHI) between 1,370 and 2,100 kWh/m3/year, Angola has the potential to install more than 17.3GW of solar power. In view of the above assessment, the government set a target of 100MW of solar energy plants, of which 10MW are off-grid. Also building one factory for PV panel production is on the government's agenda.

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Taxation System To approve subsidized tariffs (Feed-In Tariff) for renewable power plants up to 10MW and to revise the taxation system.

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CLIMATE CHANGES In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was established. It stipulates that industrialized nations (Annex I) must reduce their combined greenhouse gas emissions by at most 5% relative to 1990 levels. This applies to all years from 2008 to 2012. Angola ratified the Kyoto Protocol on May 8, 2007, The Kyoto Protocol doesn't commit countries that are not listed in Annex I (developing) to any emission targets for the first period of agreement (2008-2012). The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) allows for offsets of GHG emissions in Annex I nations through projects that reduce GHG emissions. This is due to the lower cost of reducing GHG emissions in these countries.

TWO PHASES OF THE “SOLAR VILLAGE” PROGRAM’S BENEFICIARIES ARE GIVEN BELOW Infrastructure

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1st Phase

2nd Phase

Total

Schools

10

23

33

Clinics

16

23

39

Administrative Residences

10

29

39

Police Stations

3

7

10

Community Centers

0

7

7

Total

39

89

128

Streetlights

70

84

154

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POTENTIAL FOR RURAL ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT Air and water solar heaters for household application.

Solar dryers for drying, among other foods, grains, fish, and fruits.

Solar water pumping system for irrigation purposes.

Solar stoves as an alternative to wood-burning stoves.

Solar desalination of salt water.

Cold production for food preservation.

2 1

INCENTIVES FOR PRODUCING GRID CONNECTED LARGE SCALE SOLAR ENERGY Power Purchase Agreement (PPA):

Feed-in-Tariff (FiT): Distributor companies have to buy solar energy at a slightly higher rate than the present grid tariff. This is called feed-in-tariff (FiT). This higher tariff’s finances will be allocated by direct subsidy to DISCOM or by Cross subsidy on consumers. For projects size, less than or equal to 10MW will have a FiT tariff rate.

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PPA is an energy supply contract that will regulate the feed-in tariff for a predefined period. Law 256/11 allows remuneration of production of energy to be adjusted through negotiated PPA tariff for large-scale solar projects. PPA with negotiated tariff will be applicable for large-size projects with more than 10MW capacity.

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