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GE powers South Africa’s first landfill gas projects.

South Africa’s first landfill methane gas-to-energy facilities are set to be commissioned at two sites near Durban on the country’s east coast, marking a milestone in the nation’s renewable energy journey

Powered by GE Energy’s Jenbacher generator sets, the projects are scheduled to come online in early 2007 within the eThekwini municipal region.

Located at the La Mercy and Mariannhill landfill sites, the plants will act as flagship renewable energy projects, supplying electricity directly into the municipal grid. In addition to power generation, revenue generated from the sale of carbon credits, a critical factor in ensuring the projects’ financial viability, will be partially allocated toward local community development initiatives.

GE supplied two containerised generator sets to project contractor Envitech Solutions (Pty) Ltd, based in Benoni, South Africa. Envitech was responsible for installing both the Jenbacher units and the associated gas extraction systems on behalf of Durban Solid Waste, the municipal entity that manages waste disposal for the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and owns both landfill sites.

At the La Mercy landfill, a Jenbacher JGC 312 GS-L.L. generator set was installed, while the Mariannhill site was equipped with a JGC 320 GS-L.L. unit. The JGC 320 delivers an electrical output of 1,064 kW, while the JGC 312 produces 526 kW. Electrical efficiencies for the units are 40.8% and 39.1%, respectively.

By capturing and converting landfill methane into usable energy, the projects significantly reduce the volume of gas released into the atmosphere. Methane has a global warming potential 21 times greater than carbon dioxide. Beyond greenhouse gas reduction, the initiative is also expected to deliver environmental benefits through improved air quality and reduced risks to groundwater.

"GE Energy is honored to provide the gas engine equipment for South Africa's inaugural landfill energy projects and to support the country's strong commitment to expanding the production and use of renewable energy," said Prady Iyyanki, CEO of GE Energy's Jenbacher gas engine business.

In 2006, GE confirmed that its Jenbacher landfill gas technology, alongside its biogas and coal mine gas solutions, had been certified under the company’s ecomagination programme. The initiative reflects GE’s focus on developing cleaner and more efficient energy solutions, lowering emissions and supporting access to sustainable water resources.

Looking ahead, GE maintains a strong presence in South Africa through Agaricus Trading cc, its regional sales and service partner for Jenbacher gas engine equipment.

GE Energy’s Jenbacher gas engine business is a global leader in gas-fuelled reciprocating engines, packaged generator sets and cogeneration systems for power generation. These engines operate on natural gas as well as a wide range of waste-derived gases, including landfill gas.

The projects will see the construction of nine solar power plants with a combined installed capacity of 595 kW, supported by 1.7 MWh of battery energy storage. (Image source: CEI Africa)

Stichting Clean Energy and Energy Inclusion for Africa (CEI Africa) has, through its Crowdlending Window, finalised a US$1.5mn junior secured loan with Mionwa Generation SA, OnePower’s special purpose vehicle in Benin, in partnership with crowdfunding platform Energise Africa

As part of the same financing round, Energise Africa has secured a further US$970,000 in senior secured debt and plans to raise an additional US$420,000.

Together, the financing totals US$2.9mn and will fund the development of nine solar mini-grid projects in rural areas of Benin. The projects will see the construction of nine solar power plants with a combined installed capacity of 595 kW, supported by 1.7 MWh of battery energy storage. Once commissioned, the mini-grids are expected to supply clean, dependable electricity to around 4,700 households and businesses, replacing more polluting energy sources while providing continuous power.

In parallel with the debt financing, CEI Africa has committed up to US$972,000in results-based financing grant support. Additional results-based funding has been secured from the Universal Energy Facility (UEF), a multi-donor programme managed by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), which has allocated a total of US$1.66mn in incentives across five project sites.

“This financing marks a major milestone for the OnePower Mionwa portfolio in Benin. By combining CEI Africa’s and UEF’s RBF’s with debt from CEI Africa and Energise Africa, we are able to bring commercially viable, sustainable, utility-grade solar mini-grids to communities that have historically been left behind by the central grid” said Matthew Orosz, CEO of One Power Group.

 
 

New All-in-One energy storage system targets residential and small C&I users with scalable, intelligent performance. (Image source: GoodWe)

Building on the strong market reception of its single-phase ESA Series, GoodWe has unveiled a new three-phase All-in-One energy solution tailored for residential and small commercial and industrial (C&I) applications

Designed to seamlessly combine solar power generation, energy storage, and intelligent energy management, the new system raises the bar for flexible, high-performance energy solutions, offering greater efficiency, autonomy, and reliability across a wide range of use cases.

Simple installation, flexible expansion

The ESA three-phase solution features a pre-wired, modular architecture that enables fast installation and straightforward commissioning. With one-click configuration and upgrade capabilities, users can deploy the system quickly with minimal complexity.

To support evolving energy needs, the system is compatible with four battery module capacities — 5, 6, 8, and 9kWh, and allows mixed use of new and existing modules with different capacities. This approach enables capacity expansion without replacing current equipment, safeguarding the user’s initial investment.

The system supports the parallel connection of up to 12 battery modules, delivering a maximum storage capacity of 108kWh, while up to six systems can operate in parallel in both on-grid and off-grid modes. With a scalable range of 5–30kW / 5–108kWh, the ESA three-phase solution is well suited to both homes and small C&I environments.

Higher output, lower overall cost

Engineered to deliver strong performance with reduced upfront investment, the system is designed to maximise energy output while controlling system complexity and cost. Dual output ports simplify overall system design by minimising the need for additional components, reducing installation time and long-term maintenance, while also enabling full off-grid operation for enhanced energy independence.

With 1C charge and discharge capability, the system supports faster energy cycling, allowing the same power output to be achieved using fewer battery modules. Support for 21A per string PV input and up to 200% PV oversizing further enhances solar harvesting, helping users increase self-consumption, shorten payback periods, and maintain a stable power supply during peak demand or low-sunlight conditions.

Intelligent energy management for greater value

The system integrates seamlessly with GoodWe’s SEMS+ intelligent energy management platform, turning advanced hardware into measurable user value. Leveraging AI-driven algorithms, SEMS+ forecasts power generation using weather data and dynamically optimises charging and discharging to maximise solar utilisation.

Users also gain access to detailed energy usage analytics and revenue reports, offering clear visibility and control over consumption patterns while supporting both financial savings and sustainability goals.

Safe, quiet, and dependable operation

Designed with safety and comfort in mind, the ESA three-phase solution incorporates AI-powered protection features, including six-layer safety protection and AFCI 3.0 technology to guard against overheating, overcurrent, short circuits, and arc faults.

The system is built for dependable performance in demanding conditions, featuring an integrated heating function for stable operation down to -20°C and an IP66 rating for resistance to dust and water. Smart fan cooling keeps operational noise below 35dB, while ultra-fast backup switching of less than 4ms ensures uninterrupted power during grid outages.

From single-phase to three-phase applications, and from residential to small C&I use, the GoodWe ESA All-in-One series continues to evolve. With its focus on flexible scalability, intelligent cost efficiency, and robust safety, the new three-phase solution sets a new benchmark for energy storage across diverse scenarios.

Looking ahead, GoodWe remains committed to advancing innovation in the renewable energy sector, delivering smarter and more sustainable energy solutions worldwide, and supporting the transition toward a greener, low-carbon energy future.

Proving the viability of Madagascar’s mini-grids. (Image source: CrossBoundary Access)

CrossBoundary Access and ANKA have completed the acquisition of an asset company owning four operational mini-grid projects developed, built, and operated by ANKA in Madagascar

ANKA is a mini-grid developer, while CrossBoundary Access describes itself as Africa’s first blended finance platform for mini-grids.

The Madagascar portfolio comprises 1.7MW of solar PV and 5.6MWh of battery storage, serving thousands of customers across the Atsimo-Andrefana region.

“This acquisition demonstrates our confidence in Madagascar’s mini-grid market and ANKA's proven track record,” said Gabriel Davies, managing director, CrossBoundary Access.

“It shows that best-in-class mini-grids developers, working with supportive government policies and donor support, can deliver both impact and commercial returns.”

The acquisition is the first phase of a US$20mn partnership announced by Access and ANKA in June 2025.

Together, the two sides will finance, build and operate mini-grids to provide power to over 62,000 people across Madagascar, aligned with national energy priorities and the Mission 300 Initiative.

CrossBoundary Access becomes new majority shareholder alongside ANKA which remains a shareholder of the asset company.

The two companies aim to demonstrate that decentralised infrastructure can reach scale, liquidity, and profitability — all while delivering universal energy access and complying to the highest technical standards.

In a statement, CrossBoundary Access noted that Madagascar presents a “compelling investment opportunity for mini-grid infrastructures.”

It added: “With a national electrification rate of 36%, and a rural electrification rate of 15%, and clear regulatory framework, the Malagasy market has established the foundations for private sector energy access solutions.”

It noted that the transaction paves the way for more developers and investors to structure similar microgrid partnerships, with a “replicable example” of how to align early-stage venture capital, concessional funding, project cashflows, and local developer capacity.

Camille André-Bataille, founder and CEO of ANKA, called it a signal to the market.

“It supports the business model of developers, and shows that when execution meets ambition, the developer itself becomes investable. This is what the sector needs to grow: unlocking corporate finance for developers who can replicate these successes across multiple geographies.”

Read more:

Sierra Leone solar mini-grid project

Solar mini-grids could power 8.5 million Zambians by 2030

https://africanreview.com/energy/grant-funding-approved-for-12mw-eritrea-mini-grid-project

 

Pulse is a software backbone for companies delivering financed products, initially powering Bboxx’s services in Africa and now expanding to other businesses. (Image source: Bboxx)

Abci-Nexus, the technology-enabled holding company, has introduced Asopo Technologies, bringing its proprietary Pulse software to market as a standalone offering

The holding company also includes Bboxx, a retail and consumer credit company focussed on the provision of essential services across Africa.

Building on the legacy of Bboxx built up over 15 years, this latest move by Abci-Nexus marks a major evolution for the group and is designed to accelerate scale, impact, and long-term value creation across its markets.

Under the new company architecture, Bboxx will continue as the group’s retail and consumer credit business, headquartered in Kigali and focussed on serving aspiring urban and underserved rural customers with clean energy, clean cooking, smartphones, e-mobility and selected financial services, using pay-as-you-go and other asset-financing models powered by Pulse.

The new company Asopo Technologies will commercialise and scale Pulse, the group’s fully integrated operating system originally designed to run Bboxx’s distributed operations, into new geographies and across multiple sectors, developing a leading B2B SaaS platform for asset-financed products in growth markets.

Anthony Osijo, group CEO, Abci-Nexus, said, “This marks a new beginning for the company. This structure allows each part of the group to focus on what it does best. Abci-Nexus will concentrate on capital, partnerships and governance; Bboxx on delivering reliable products, great service, and meaningful impact for households, businesses, and communities; and Asopo Technologies on building world-class scalable software. By focussing on our strengths in each vertical, we can improve quality and efficiency, scale faster, and further catalyse our impact.”

Pulse integrates mobile money, device and asset tracking, and credit operations into a single AI powered platform, improving customer quality and operational efficiency for Bboxx and its partners. Asopo Technologies takes its name from the Yoruba word for “connection”, reflecting its role in connecting people, data, and finance.

Christopher Baker-Brian, co-founder and chief technology officer, Bboxx and Managing Director, Asopo Technologies, remarked, “Pulse has always been the digital backbone powering Bboxx’s growth for more than a decade, enabling us to build and scale distributed, asset-financed businesses in some of the world’s most complex markets. By spinning it out under Asopo Technologies, we can offer the same infrastructure to other companies. Our goal is to make building and scaling asset-financed businesses in emerging markets dramatically easier, across Africa and beyond.”

Pulse already processes millions of transactions a month, connects thousands of agents, and supports the delivery of clean, affordable energy and connectivity to more than six million people.

Representatives of Abci-Nexus’s shareholder consortium, who include PIDG (Private Infrastructure Development Group) said, “As long-term investors, we are fully aligned behind this next chapter for Abci-Nexus. Over the past two years we have worked closely with the leadership team to strengthen the group, sharpen its strategic direction, and position it for sustainable growth. The new architecture provides the clarity, focus, and operational discipline needed to unlock the full potential of Bboxx, Asopo Technologies and the wider portfolio. We remain committed to supporting Abci-Nexus as it scales its impact, deepens market penetration, and delivers life-changing products and services to millions more people.”

Abci-Nexus is, through its portfolio companies, already positively impacting the lives of more than six million people in seven operating markets, directly contributing to 12 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. It is one of the largest retail networks in Africa, with more than 3,000 staff across the continent and support teams in Europe and Asia.

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