Africa & Middle East

The provincial government of Gauteng in South Africa is to spend over ZAR11 billion this year (US$1 billion) installing solar on all state-owned buildings in the province.

Solar Frontier, a subsidiary of the Japanese Shell Group, Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K, is celebrating the six month performance of a 10.5MW array in Saudi Arabia.

Renewable energy technology developer Abengoa has completed construction of South Africa’s first solar tower.

The third bidding window for South Africa’s national renewable energy initiative closes today amid expectations of a surge in competition for the available PV capacity.

Sunpower Israel inaugurated the commercial operation of the largest solar power plant in Israel on Tuesday 6 August.

Dubai-based investment company Adenium Capital has purchased a 24MW solar farm in southern Italy.

Plans to build a fully integrated PV supply chain within Saudi Arabia are continuing slowly with reports that Idea Polysilicon Company (IPC) has received four bids to build its proposed 10,000MT polysilicon plant and ingot/wafer operations.

Specialist bank Investec is investing ZAR8 billion (US$813 million) in South Africa’s renewable energy independent power producer procurement programme (REIPPPP).

Chinese PV manufacturers JA Solar and Powerway are to join forces to target South Africa’s burgeoning solar market.

UK based EPC Solarcentury has a formed a joint venture with South African firm Momentous Energy to form Solarcentury Africa.