Energy

A new renewable energy platform supported by the African Development Bank and partners will serve nearly 70,000 households. (Image source: African Development Bank)

PowerGen Renewable Energy (PowerGen) has joined forces with leading international investors to create a scalable, distributed renewable energy platform. The initiative aims to deploy 120MW of renewable power, including battery energy storage solutions, across Africa

The platform is a collaboration between PowerGen and prominent organisations such as the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), the Danish Investment Fund for Developing Countries (IFU), EDFI Management Company (via its EU-funded Electrification Financing Initiative, ElectriFi), and the African Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA). PIDG’s anchor commitment was made through its investment arm, InfraCo, supported by concessional capital from PIDG Technical Assistance.

Managed by the African Development Bank, SEFA is a multi-donor special fund providing catalytic finance to stimulate private-sector investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Leveraging PowerGen’s 13+ years of experience in African projects, the funds will enable the deployment of a 120 MW portfolio, comprising renewable mini-/metro-grids and commercial and industrial (C&I) power solutions with integrated battery storage. Initially focused on Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the platform is set to expand regionally by tapping into PowerGen’s extensive pipeline and fostering partnerships with local developers and EPCs. This platform approach is expected to accelerate efforts to connect the 570 million people in sub-Saharan Africa who currently lack electricity, as per IRENA data.

The first transaction closure in January 2025 will pave the way for additional equity and debt finance later this year. PowerGen, a Power Africa private sector partner, previously benefited from technical assistance and funding for ElectriFi and SEFA from the U.S. government-led Power Africa initiative.

Claire Jarratt, PIDG’s head of investment management for InfraCo, stated, “PIDG has worked with PowerGen for a number of years in Sierra Leone, and we are confident in their ability to develop, deliver and operate high-quality distributed energy infrastructure in challenging conditions. We are therefore delighted to anchor this new investment. We are pleased to be working with partners to support PowerGen to expand its offering across sub-Saharan Africa at a platform scale that has the potential to be truly transformational.”

Luke Foley, PIDG deputy head of technical assistance, added, “This investment epitomises the PIDG mandate. It builds on PIDG’s innovative use of its blended finance tools and reinforces its dedication to support the deployment of sustainable energy solutions, which are key to both combating climate change and fostering economic resilience in the region.”

Henrik Henriksen, IFU investment director, commented, “There is a tremendous need for enabling access to clean energy that can assist underserved households and businesses in Africa to become more resilient to climate change and to provide them with opportunities for better living conditions without further increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, we are very proud to be a part of a joint investment enabling PowerGen to develop sustainable off-grid power solutions in sub-Saharan Africa. This aligns with our increased focus on supporting Africa’s transition to be more climate resilient.”

Dr Daniel Schroth, director of renewable energy and Energy Efficiency at the African Development Bank, stated, “The African Development Bank’s contribution to PowerGen’s platform reflects our commitment to catalysing private investment in sustainable infrastructure and energy access in line with the objectives of Mission 300. This project will bring electricity to underserved areas in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and the DRC, and generate significant economic activity and create numerous employment opportunities. It’s an excellent example of our strategy to drive development through targeted partnerships.”

With this funding secured, PowerGen is poised to serve the energy needs of over 68,000 households and reduce power costs for 7,000 businesses. The enhanced electricity access is expected to boost business productivity, generate indirect jobs, and stimulate economic growth.

Located in Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal, the project is making steady progress, with all necessary processes advancing. (Image source: Photon Energy)

Photon Energy N.V. has announced a major milestone through its South African subsidiary, Photon Renewable Energy Pty Ltd, in developing a 250MW concentrated solar PV plant with 150MW (1.8 GWh, 12 hours) of thermal hydro storage in Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

“This project represents a significant milestone for Photon Energy as we expand our footprint into South Africa. By deploying the advanced RayGen technology and fostering strong collaboration with Eskom and local stakeholders, we are committed to contributing to South Africa’s energy stability and delivering sustainable solutions that benefit both the environment and local communities,” said Georg Hotar, CEO of Photon Energy Group.

Can solar storage transform?

The project has successfully secured 1,200 hectares of land and obtained favorable grid connection terms, enabling the integration of its full capacity into the national grid. Once operational, this facility will enhance South Africa's energy stability and help mitigate the effects of load shedding.

In its next phase, Photon Energy will work alongside Eskom and the local Distribution System Operator (DSO) to design and implement technical solutions for integrating the plant into the regional and national grid. This partnership will ensure grid stability, optimize energy distribution, and provide key services such as frequency regulation and peak load management.

The project is progressing steadily, with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on track for completion by Q4 this year and zoning processes moving forward. Photon Energy is also preparing applications for the NERSA energy license and the Public Participation Process (PPP), essential steps for securing approvals to begin construction. The project is expected to achieve ready-to-build status by Q2 2026.

Photon Energy is pursuing Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) status under South Africa’s Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission, which would expedite development timelines and facilitate collaboration with critical stakeholders.

RayGen’s Solar Hydro solution, which combines concentrated solar power with water-based thermal storage, provides long-duration energy storage capable of delivering dispatchable synchronous energy for over 12 hours.

Photon Energy entered into a strategic partnership with RayGen and announced its initial investment in April 2020. Since then, Photon Energy has developed RayGen projects and maintained a 5.44% equity stake in the company, underscoring its commitment to advancing this innovative technology.

Neosun Energy enters Kenya, providing affordable solar energy solutions to commercial and industrial sectors for sustainable growth. (Image source:

Neosun Energy, a global leader in solar energy solutions, has officially entered the Kenyan market

This expansion focuses on providing cost-effective and sustainable energy solutions for commercial and industrial (C&I) projects, with system capacities ranging from 200kW to 10MW, designed to offer local businesses affordable solar alternatives.

Neosun Energy brings its expertise in constructing solar power stations and advanced energy storage systems to one of Africa’s most promising renewable energy regions.

Kenya’s energy landscape presents both challenges and opportunities, making Neosun Energy’s entry into the market timely. While Kenya is a leader in Africa’s renewable energy sector, with over 80% of its power demand met through green energy, many regions still face significant energy shortages.

With over half a billion people in sub-Saharan Africa lacking reliable electricity access and frequent power outages disrupting businesses, Neosun Energy is stepping in to help local enterprises. "Kenya is among the top five fastest-growing economies in Africa. However, businesses in Kenya still face energy supply shortages, especially in remote areas. The mission of Neosun Energy is committed to providing these companies with affordable and accessible solar energy," said CEO Ilya Likhov.

Neosun’s expansion targets sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, warehousing, and commercial offices. By offering tailored solar PV and Energy Storage Solutions, the company aims to reduce energy costs and increase productivity, benefiting businesses and the wider economy.

Each of the 10 mtu gensets has a rated power of 2,500kW and an operational lifetime of up to 84,000 hours before needing major overhaul. (Image source: Rolls-Royce)

Rolls-Royce, a developer of complex power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical applications, has commissioned ten mtu gas gensets for the Egyptian Wood Technology Company’s (WOTECH) production plant

The plant is located in northern Egypt and produces medium-density fibreboard (MDF) from rice straw for use in furniture and buildings. The plant avoids the usual practice of burning rice straw, which is a by-product of rice cultivation, and ensures its sustainable use by repurposing it into MDF. The factory is the second of its kind in the world and the first in Africa.

As the facility has no access to the public grid, it relies on the 20-cylinder mtu gas gensets which have a collective output of 25MW. Rolls-Royce worked with local partner Engineering for Industries Co. (INDE) and the Egyptian Maintenance Company (EMC) to supply the mtu Series 4000 L64 FNER gensets, controls and accessories for the WOTECH project, which was established with full Egyptian capital from the oil sector.

“When supporting a project such as the WOTECH facility, where there is no access to the grid utility, the dependability of our mtu gas-powered gensets is paramount,” commented Tobias Ostermaier, president stationary power solutions at Rolls-Royce. “Working with INDE and EMC, we were able to deliver a power solution that met all the customer requirements - being efficient, reliable and offering the combination of best-in-class power density with low emissions.”