Energy

Master Power Technologies earns landmark EU Data Centre Certification

MPT secures prestigious EU endorsement. (Image source: Master Power Technologies)

Master Power Technologies (MPT), a leading African specialist in critical power and data centre infrastructure, has become the first company from Africa to receive official recognition as an Endorser of the European Code of Conduct for Energy Efficiency in Data Centres

This achievement places MPT among the continent’s top champions of sustainable data centre design. It also confirms the company’s commitment to meeting the highest international standards for energy efficiency and responsible power usage.

The certification was granted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), which recognises organisations that design and support data centres according to stringent energy-management best practices. With this endorsement, MPT joins a select roster of global leaders, such as Microsoft, who have earned this distinction.

“This is a proud moment for Africa. We have always believed that African engineering can meet and exceed global benchmarks. Now, with this certification, we can confidently assure our clients that their data centres are being built to the same standards as the best in Europe, efficient, sustainable and future-ready,” said Menno Parsons, founder and CEO of MPT.

Gold standard for data centre design

The European Code of Conduct was introduced to address rising concerns over the growing energy demands of data centres. Since launching in 2008, it has evolved into the leading benchmark for energy-efficient data centre design and operations across the EU. Until now, no African engineering company had secured certification within this framework.

Bernard Lecanu, managing director at BL International Consultant and one of the original creators of the Code, welcomed MPT’s achievement.

“When we began this initiative, we knew that the data centre industry would need to evolve rapidly to meet environmental and energy challenges. MPT’s achievement is not only a first for Africa, it is also a signal that the continent is ready to lead in sustainable digital infrastructure.”

For MPT’s clients, the certification provides clear and measurable value. It validates that their facilities are engineered for optimal energy performance, helping reduce operational expenditure and minimise environmental impact. It also boosts trust among international partners, especially those aligning with the EU’s Taxonomy Regulation and broader sustainability requirements.

Boost for Africa’s data centre industry

Beyond its commercial advantages, MPT’s endorsement delivers a significant push for Africa’s rapidly expanding data centre sector. As digital adoption accelerates across the continent, demand for resilient, efficient infrastructure is increasing. MPT’s success sets a new benchmark and supports the development of an African Code of Conduct, an initiative the company is helping shape in collaboration with European bodies.

“This is just the beginning. We are not only building data centres, we are also helping to build a sustainable digital future for Africa. This certification proves that African engineering can meet the most demanding global standards and gives our clients the confidence that every facility we design is optimised for performance, resilience, and environmental responsibility,” remarked Parsons.

“It also opens the door for deeper collaboration with European partners and policymakers, ensuring that Africa is not just catching up, but actively shaping the future of data centre innovation. We are proud to lead this transformation and are ready to help others follow.”

New 600kW heavy-duty silent generator order from Haiti

Dingbo Power has confirmed a new order from Haiti for a 600kW heavy-duty silent diesel generator set, now in production. (Image source: Dingbo Power)

Dingbo Power has recently secured an order from a Haitian client for a 600kW heavy-duty silent diesel generator set. Production began on 25 October, with a delivery period of 20 days

Manufacturing is progressing as scheduled, and the generator will be completed and shipped in full alignment with the client’s requirements.

The generator set, manufactured by Guangxi Dingbo Generator Set Manufacturing Co., Ltd., is the DB-600GF model, designed as a silent-type unit. It delivers a prime output of 600kW/750kVA and a standby output of 660kW/825kVA, operating at 440V with a rated current of 984A. Running at 1800 rpm and 60Hz, it features a 0.8 lag power factor and a three-phase, four-wire configuration. The system is powered by a Cummins KT38-G diesel engine and paired with a Shanghai Stamford GR355G1 alternator. Control and monitoring are managed through the SmartGen HGM6110N-4G-G controller, which includes integrated 4G cloud remote monitoring capabilities.

The client emphasised the need for a heavy-duty silent generator, a requirement Dingbo Power is addressing with a reinforced 6mm-thick steel base frame to increase durability and stability. The generator will be housed inside a specially designed silent canopy made from 2mm-thick galvanised steel sheets. This enclosure provides strong corrosion resistance and keeps operational noise at just 80 dB(A) at a 7-metre distance, making it suitable for noise-sensitive environments.

At the heart of the system is the Cummins KT38-G diesel engine, known for its reliability and efficiency under demanding conditions. It is a 12-cylinder, V-type, 4-stroke water-cooled engine with turbocharging and a 38-litre displacement. It delivers 679kW of prime power and 747kW of standby power at 60Hz and 1800 rpm. The engine features an electronic governor, a 15.5:1 compression ratio, and a 159mm × 159mm bore and stroke. Fuel consumption ranges from 43 kg/h at 25% load to 131 kg/h at 100% prime load, and 147 kg/h at 100% standby load. Additional technical specifications include a 24V electric start system, Cummins PT fuel injection, a coolant capacity of 112L, and an oil system capacity of up to 135.1L.

Dingbo Power expressed gratitude to the Haitian client for their trust and highlighted that this customised heavy-duty silent generator reflects the company’s commitment to delivering high-quality, durable power solutions. The production team is fully dedicated to the project and confident that the final unit will provide reliable performance and long-term operational value.

Africa’s flaring problem: less waste, more watts

Turning wasted flared gas into megawatts (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Africa’s flaring problem is less waste, more watts, according to Hesham Tawfik Elshamy head of commercial AMEAPAC at Aggreko, who unpacks how the continent can translate its flaring problem into a power solution

In 2024, Africa flared nearly 40 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas, with Nigeria, Algeria and Libya as the largest contributors. This volume represents more than 25% of global flaring and is nearly the equivalent of Africa’s entire annual gas consumption.

This data, from the World Bank’s Global Gas Flaring Tracker 2024, also found that the global total has now reached 151bcm, which is the highest level since 2007 and is releasing 389 million tonnes of CO2 into the environment. It is a climate tragedy.

It is also a missed opportunity. This flared gas can be used to generate electricity, cut emissions and provide affordable power where it is most needed, particularly in these African regions.

Nigeria, for example, is one of the largest producers of flaring and is also struggling with poor grid reliability, which is affecting national productivity and the economy. Over the course of 2024, the country experienced at least six national grid collapses and prolonged blackouts. According to the World Bank, Nigeria’s flaring has continued at the same intensity despite its oil production dropping by almost 50% between 2012 and 2022, with more than 174 individual flare sites as of 2022.

Africa is the only region in the world where the number of people without electricity is increasing, even though globally, access to electricity is becoming more advanced and capable. The sub-Saharan Africa region accounts for 85% of the world’s population without power. Yet vast volumes of flare gas are being wasted on the continent, often at oilfields located near communities that remain entirely off-grid.

The environmental and economic cost of this trend is significant. Based on European import gas prices, for example, the global value of flared gas in 2024 exceeded US$63bn, and much of this value is wasted in countries with low electricity access. And while countries like Angola and Libya reported modest improvements in flaring in 2024, the broader pattern of burned-off value remains consistent.

Fortunately, this is a story that can have a different ending. Flare-to-power solutions can transform the narrative in Africa, converting waste gas into electricity using modular on-site systems that don’t demand extensive spending into infrastructure, but do add value and deliver immediate return on investment.

Using flared gas as fuel is cheaper than diesel, grid tariffs or compressed natural gas (CNG) and for oilfield operators, it can lead to significant operational savings. Flaring also releases methane, a greenhouse gas that is 84 times more potent than CO2 over 20 years. Capturing and using this gas reduces overall emissions and supports sustainability goals across both the organisation and the country.

This also taps into regulatory compliance requirements, which are becoming increasingly onerous and challenging to navigate. Governments across the continent are cracking down on flaring – Nigeria’s Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission imposed higher penalties in 2023, including a US$2 per 1,000 scf fine for routine flaring. The World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative now includes Nigeria, Angola, Gabon, Cameroon and the Republic of Congo.

Treated gas can be used on-site or it can be monetised. Natural gas liquids, for example, can be extracted and sold, which opens new income streams for smaller operators previously unable to justify gas recovery infrastructure. In addition, flare-to-power systems can energise isolated oilfields and industrial hubs without access to grids or pipelines.

There are, however, challenges. In Africa, insufficient pipelines and gas treatment plants, capital access constraints, fragmented regulation, and market access limitations are affecting the move to monetise or transport this gas. Although capturing flare gas across Africa could yield 10GW of power generation capacity – more than double the total installed capacity of Kenya and capable of electrifying millions of households – it isn’t being harnessed to its full potential yet.

The ’yet’ is important. Flare-to-power solutions are available and capable. Aggreko has deployed more than 500 MW of APG-fuelled systems globally, including projects that support zero-flaring operations in the Middle East and Africa. In one recent case, an operator eliminated routine flaring while powering remote oilfield infrastructure off-grid. It is possible.

Change means developing legislation and providing support to companies to ensure that gas flaring is transformed into usable power and a way of providing electricity to millions across Africa. It is a clean technology that can provide access, cut costs and mitigate emissions, and in Africa, it is a smart way to capture the energy it is burning into the sky.

Africa's hybrid energy edge Aggreko

Building reliable power for mining operations in Africa

Infinity Power lands EBRD cash for Africa expansion

Infinity is scaling up its African clean energy portfolio

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced an additional equity investment of US$40mn in Infinity, Egypt’s leading developer of renewable energy

It brings the bank’s total equity commitment to US$141.5mn, up from US$101.5mn.

The new capital will support Infinity Power, Infinity’s subsidiary, in delivering approximately 3 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity across key African markets.

An EBRD client for many years, Infinity is Egypt’s leading renewable energy developer, operating across Africa through its subsidiary Infinity Power.

Infinity Power — a joint venture between Egypt’s Infinity and Abu Dhabi’s Masdar — has a portfolio of more than 1.3 GW of operational solar and wind projects across Egypt, South Africa and Senegal, and a near-term development pipeline of around 3 GW.

The company targets solar, wind, as well as green hydrogen, battery storage and transmission grid projects across the continent, aiming for 10 GW of operational capacity by 2030.

“This continued support from the EBRD underlines our shared vision of a sustainable, fast-growth future for Egypt and Africa,” said Mohamed Ismail Mansour, Infinity’s chairman.

“Together, we are helping to unlock immense renewable energy potential – delivering projects that create jobs, strengthen energy security and enable long-term economic growth.”

The follow-on investment reflects the EBRD’s continued support for private sector-led renewable energy development in Africa and aligns with its strategic priorities of promoting green transition and sustainable infrastructure.

“We are very pleased to strengthen our partnership with Infinity and support its efforts to deliver large-scale renewable energy projects that will contribute to energy security, decarbonisation and economic development across the continent,” said Harry Boyd-Carpenter, managing director of the EBRD’s Sustainable Infrastructure Group.

“Beyond Egypt, this new investment marks an exciting step in expanding Infinity’s footprint across Africa, where we see tremendous potential to scale up solar and wind generation. Together, we aim to bring clean, reliable and affordable energy to fast-growing economies and to drive the continent’s green transformation.”

Egypt is a founding member of the EBRD. Since the start of its operations there in 2012, the bank has invested more than €13.5bn in 207 projects.

Inside Infinity Power's 10GW renewables target

Infinity Power makes 1GW Sierra Leone commitment

Uganda’s extractives industry: the electrification imperative

Electrification is a key part of Uganda’s economic transformation (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Uganda is entering an exciting growth period, writes Josiah Habwe, general manager for Tanzania and Uganda, energy business at Schneider Electric

The country’s energy and extractives industry, which includes mining, oil and gas and electricity generation, is today driving infrastructure growth and subsequent electrification efforts.

And with good reason. Uganda’s reserves of critical minerals, which include lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, are highly sought after and attracting global investment, especially for use in the manufacture of renewables. This has put regions like Karamoja at the forefront of exploration and extraction activities.

Furthermore, Uganda’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP), launched in 2024, outlines a roadmap for universal access to modern energy and sustainable economic transformation which includes US$1.5bn earmarked for renewable energy initiatives.

This, in turn, is equally good news as Uganda — like its counterparts in eastern Africa — continues to face electricity access challenges with rural areas still underserved or reliant on diesel generators.

The above is therefore serendipitous, if you will, and represents the culmination of two all-important growth points: the expansion of the country’s energy and extractives industry, plus a renewed commitment in providing access to electricity.

This is accelerating investment into new power plants, transmission lines, and distribution networks. The subsequent, supporting infrastructure is creating opportunities for nearby communities to benefit from grid expansion and improved access to reliable, affordable power.

Infrastructure-led growth

As mentioned, the economic impact of Uganda’s energy and extractives sector is far-reaching. However, major cities like Kampala are also witnessing an infrastructure boom, with new roads, housing, and commercial developments reshaping the city’s landscape.

Across the country, industrial parks and agro-processing hubs are emerging, laying the groundwork for broader economic diversification.

Also, anticipated energy and extractives pipelines and refinery initiatives are stimulating demand for large-scale power generation and grid expansion. These projects highlight the sector’s dual role: fuelling immediate industrial growth, while also unlocking long-term development for communities.

Technology enables growth

Meeting the demands of this rapid expansion requires advanced energy management and automation solutions.

Schneider Electric is playing an important in Uganda’s journey. With a permanent office established in Kampala, we are well positioned to deliver scalable, sustainable technologies that adapt to the country’s evolving needs.

From medium- and low-voltage (MV and LV) solutions to grid automation and microgrid systems, our portfolio addresses the full spectrum of Uganda’s energy landscape. Our EcoStruxure for Power and Grid platform, for example, enables utilities to digitise operations for real-time monitoring and control, integrate renewable energy sources, and strengthen grid reliability.

In rural and peri-urban settings, modular microgrids combining solar and battery storage offer sustainable alternatives to diesel generators, powering schools, health centres, and small industries.

Data centres

The extractives industry is also indirectly driving another critical pillar of Uganda’s modernisation: the growth of data centres. These facilities are essential to digital transformation, providing secure hosting, enabling e-governance, and supporting private sector innovation.

Indeed, as demand for data centres grows, reliable electricity becomes indispensable. This again makes the case for strengthening power infrastructure.

The continued and strategic investments in Uganda’s power networks are key to building economic resilience and ensuring sustainable growth. Expanding and modernising the grid will reduce electricity costs, making local industries more competitive in regional and global markets.

Here, reliable, cost-effective power will also attract investment into manufacturing, logistics, and services, positioning Uganda as a competitive export hub.

Schneider Electric is committed to partnering with Uganda on this journey. Through our Access to Energy programme, we endeavour to provide reliable power to underserved communities and critical facilities.

Ultimately, by building capacity through local partnerships and offering adaptable, efficient technologies, we are assisting in Uganda’s continued and sustained growth.

Uganda launches Ncwera mini-hydro project