Regional

Multiple wind turbines set against a sunset sky
Regional

Can Africa states turn green hydrogen ambitions into reality?

African countries are in a race against time to establish themselves as renewables-driven hubs to supply escalating global demand for green hydrogen, reports Ian Lewis Green hydrogen production is becoming established as one of those new industries with a seemingly assured future in which African countries and their copious renewable energy resources are well positioned […]
Finance

Droughts Raise Doubts over Hydro’s Future Role in Africa

Uncertainties surround the outlook for hydropower in Africa, but new projects of varying sizes continue to gain access to financing across the continent, reports Ben Payton In Zambia and Zimbabwe, electricity has become a precious commodity over the past few months. The two countries have been enduring severe power cuts since late last year. In […]
Regional

One Rule for Them?

Hydrocarbons-related projects across the globe are finding it harder to get a hearing these days. But, asks James Gavin, is Africa still being held to tougher standards than other parts of the world?
Regional

African Wind Power Struggles to Gain Momentum

Few African countries are harnessing wind energy on a significant scale – but South Africa offers a potential model for the rest of the continent, writes Ben Payton Africa has a gaping hole in its energy supply. Six hundred million people, around half of the continent’s population, lack access to electricity. Without much faster progress, […]
Energy access

Access To Reliable And Affordable Off-Grid Energy To Be Transformed Across Benin Under New Eib – Engie Energy Access Initiative

Households, smallholders and entrepreneurs in remote locations across Benin will be able to access reliable and cheap electricity for the first time under a new off-grid solar scheme agreed between leading solar energy company ENGIE Energy Access and the European Investment Bank, one of the world’s largest financiers of renewable energy.   The European Investment […]
Regional

Gridworks And The Government Of Uganda Announce Pilot Project For Private Investment In The Country’s Electricity Transmission Sector

Each has been identified as a priority by Uganda’s national transmission utility (UETCL) in its latest Grid Development Plan. Gridworks will develop and finance the project – providing up to US$90m equity funding – with Siemens undertaking the upgrade work on the four substations. Investment in the transmission sector is critical to realise the Ugandan government’s development […]
Finance

Financing Challenges and Opportunities in Africa

Lion’s Head Global Partners Managing Director James Doree speaks to Bill Lumley about progress in funding Africa’s energy transition. How do Lion’s Head funds play a role in Africa’s energy transition? It comes down partly to what we mean by energy transition. Our funds all have the ethos of targeting an issue and being able […]
Regional

Making Egypt a Green Hub

Yehia Zaki talks to Bill Lumley about the way the SCZONE is embracing renewables and its ambitions for becoming a hub for renewable energy products in Africa and the region. Eng. Yehia Zaki is the Chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), an Egyptian Authority responsible for the management and the operation of 461 […]
Finance

Going Private

IPPs across Africa are growing in size and scale, thanks to their ability to attract a more diverse array of financing. James Gavin reports. Over time, independent power projects (IPPs) have emerged as Africa’s fastest growing energy sector structures, spreading in popularity across borders and meeting with a surfeit of investment as private sector backers […]
Regional

Kenya Seeks to Maximise Benefits from ‘Baseload’ Renewables

Kenya’s geothermal and hydropower resources have been major contributors to the country’s success in boosting electricity access rates, but can they play a major role in meeting surging energy demand in the future? Kenya has been one of Africa’s success stories in terms of progress towards the UN global Sustainable Development Goal of achieving universal […]
Gas

Africa and Green Hydrogen: A Perfect Match?

Green hydrogen projects could prove vital in the fight to stem global warming, and African countries could be poised to play a pivotal role as hydrogen production and export hubs. Hydrogen is a versatile element that is in growing demand. It provides a feedstock for industries such as iron and steel, petrochemicals and ammonia, it […]
Finance

African Energy Data

Africa’s electricity supply industry gaining momentum despite crises and delays. In common with other industries, Africa’s power sector has suffered major challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in delays, cancelled projects, and new ways of working. Problems remain, but there are indications that some momentum is returning. 2021 marked a low point for new capacity […]

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