With almost perfect conditions for solar technology deployment, a significant energy need and weak infrastructure, South Africa as highlighted in a detailed EPIA report last year should be one of the best emerging markets. However, lack of financial support was said to be the key obstacle. That my now be changing with one example of funding being made available with the support of the European Investment Bank and Investec to the tune of €100 million for the promotion of clean energy generation and energy efficiency initiatives in South Africa.
Nigeria’s National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) recently revealed plans to develop a 7.5MW solar panel manufacturing plant in Karshi, Abuja so that Nigeria can begin to cut its dependency on the importation of solar panels. The project is being developed through a joint venture with an undisclosed foreign partner.
Work will begin next year on the first phase of the 500MW Desertec concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in Morocco, according to German newspaper Süddeutschen Zeitung. The initial development stage will cost around €600 million and add 150MW of capacity to the yet-to-be-named site.
Although better known as one of the world's largest suppliers of oil, Saudi Arabia continues to join the solar age with the inauguration of one of its first larger-scale photovoltaic power plants on October 1. The facility, a 500KW system comprised of Solar Frontier CI(G)S thin-film modules, is located on Farasan Island and was installed by the Saudi Electricity Co. and Solar Frontier's parent company, Showa Shell Sekiyu (which is partially owned by the Saudi Arabian Oil Co.).
In a bid to generate 5% of the emirate’s electricity needs from renewable sources by 2030, Dubai authorities were cited by a Reuters India report as being on the verge of announcing details of a large solar power plant in the region. Saeed Mohammed al-Tayer, vice chairman of Dubai's Supreme Council of Energy, has said that although the 5% target will comprise several forms of renewable energy sources, “[t]his is mainly going to be solar”.
Solar Millennium has claimed that its Kuraymat, Egypt solar-thermal power plant, in operation since June, has been surpassing field performance by 8%. The parabolic trough technology hybrid plant holds an overall 150MW electric capacity and in addition to solar energy, uses natural gas to allow for 24-hour operation.
On August 15, Tsumkwe, a small village in Northern Namibia was able to receive its first, around-the-clock electricity supply in three years thanks to a hybrid solar system completed by juwi Solar. The 200kW system, consisting of a 1MW battery storage unit and three integrated diesel generators, is claimed to be one of Africa’s largest off-grid solar systems and supplies Tsumkwe’s public buildings and 100 private households with electricity.
Ubbink East Africa, Centrotec Sustainable's Dutch subsidiary, has opened East Africa's first PV module factory in Naivasha, Kenya. Ubbink plans to produce around 30,000 modules a year, with the majority of these being used to cater for the growing number of small-scale systems in Africa.
Cadbury Cocoa Partnership is looking to bring photovoltaics to West Africa by installing solar lanterns and panels in Ghana. The scheme will see lanterns given to cocoa farmers and panels installed in rural schools across the country.
Solar Frontier is set to strengthen its presence within the growing Middle Eastern solar market by opening a new office in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. The office, which opens on July 1, will help Solar Frontier to liaise with its partners in the region and offer more hands-on support for its projects in Saudi Arabia.
