Financial close was reached on 20 November 2024. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Envision Energy, a leader in renewable energy solutions, has signed a contract with the EDF Group, a multinational electric utility company, in order to supply three battery energy storage systems (BESS) for the Oasis 1 cluster of projects in South Africa

Reported to be integral to the country’s inaugural Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP), the projects will amount to 257MW of capacity and 1,028MWh of storage, making it the largest BESS order in the country.

The three projects include Oasis Aggeneis, Oasis Mookodi, and Oasis Nieuwehoop power plants, located in the Northern Cape Province. EDF, in collaboration with co-sponsor Mulilo and equity partners Pele Energy Group and Gibb-Crede, under the Oasis Consortium, secured the three projects that will each include a 5% ownership interest for local communities.

“Battery storage technology is a cornerstone of sustainable energy systems, and we are delighted to contribute our leading technology to this milestone project in South Africa,” Kane Xu, senior vice president and president of international product lines at Envision Energy. "Once operational, it will effectively address the frequent load management of the current South African power grid, enhance grid stability, and reduce reliance on coal-fired power plants, supporting South Africa's transition to a more sustainable energy system.”

Envision Energy will equip these facilities with a full suite of AC and DC energy storage equipment, including station SCADA and EMS systems. The DC side will feature Envision's standard 20-foot, 5 MWh storage units powered by high-safety, high-performance 315Ah cells. Additionally, Envision will provide 15 years of comprehensive lifecycle operation and maintenance (O&M) services.

Set to be operational by the end of 2026, the three facilities are expected to significantly enhance the country’s power infrastructure and are designed to alleviate grid congestion, increase renewable energy integration while also engaging in the power market. Ultimately, they will provide a useful addition to South Africa’s low-carbon energy transition and goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

The solar plant was completed in 18 months. (Image source: AMEA Power)

AMEA Power, a renewable energy company, has announced the commissioning of the 500MW Abydos Solar PV Plant in Egypt

The project was inaugurated at a ceremony attended by the Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, His Excellency Mahmoud Esmat and chairman of AMEA Power, Hussain Al Nowais.

Financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO), and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Abydos Solar PV Plant will generate around 1,500GWh of clean energy annually which is enough to power approximately 300,000 households. According to AMEA Power, the plant has been completed within just 18 months, with more than 3,000 personnel contributing to its construction.

“I am proud to announce that the 500MW Abydos Solar PV Plant is now fully operational – a landmark achievement that highlights the dedication of our team, the strength of collaboration, and the importance of empowering local communities,” remarked Al Nowais. “This milestone demonstrates AMEA Power’s technical excellence and sets a new standard for renewable energy projects. The solar power plant is a significant step in Egypt’s renewable energy strategy, supporting the goal of achieving 42% of energy generation from renewables by 2030. Together, we are driving progress toward a sustainable future.”

This announcement closely follows the company beginning work on a new 24MW solar project in Uganda. Click here to read more.

JA Solar’s product passed through the stringent testing process and received high scores across all categories. (Image source: JA Solar)

Ja Solar, a leader in the PV industry across the globe, has received a five-star rating for its DeepBlue 4.0 Pro2465mm*1134mm (72-cell) module

As the company’s flagship n-type product, the DeepBlue 4.0 Pro 72-cell module offers a power output of up to 650W and an efficiency of 23.3%. It also boasts lower degradation, improved temperature coefficients, higher bifacial gains, and better weak light performance. This product is already widely used globally and has accrued an excellent market reputation, according to JA Solar.

Certainly this reputation appears well earned with the product receiving a ‘Very Good’ rating by PV Magazine Module Test which was conducted in collaboration with CEA and its parent company, Intertek.

The overall test module evaluates modules across several criteria including visual inspection, EL image inspection, low-irradiance levels, temperature coefficients, and potential-induced degradation (PID) performance. Among all of the bifacial TOPCon modules that were tested, the DeepBlue 4.0 Pro was the also first to undergo ultraviolet-induced degradation (UVID), a move that the company stated highlighted its confidence in the reliability of its products.

JA Solar’s product passed through the stringent testing process and received high scores across all categories, revealing the module’s exceptional performance across a variety of assessments.

Moving forward, JA Solar has stated that it will continue to leverage its technological advantages, invest in research and development, and focus on customer value and high reliability to contribute to the high-quality development of the global PV industry.

This announcement closely follows JA Solar’s new partnership with Crossboundary Energy and New Southern Energy for a significant PV project being undertaken in Kenya. To learn more about the story, click here.

Oluwole Eweje, managing director of WATT Renewable Corporation. (Image source: WATT)

AFRIGREEN, a leading investment fund focused on sustainable energy solutions, has entered into a debt facility with several project companies owned by Watt Renewable Corporation (WATT), a provider of hybrid solar solutions in Nigeria

The US$15mn deb facility will finance hybrid solar power plants to be built and operated by WATT. These will serve commercial and industrial (C&I) clients in Nigeria, with a particular focus on those within the telecommunication and financial services sectors. In doing so, WATT is hoping to reduce diesel consumption and CO2 emissions for its clients, enabling them to achieve substantial energy cost savings and reduce their environmental impact.

AFRIGREEN, which is backed by prominent institutions including the European Investment Bank (EIB), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), BIO, Proparco, Société Générale, and BNP Paribas, is offering a local currency facility that matches the payment structure of the power purchase agreements. This will mitigate the currency risk for WATT if the Nigerian Naira devalues.

“We are delighted to support WATT in rolling out hundreds of hybrid sites across the country,” remarked Alexandre Gilles, managing director of AFRIGREEN’s fund advisor. “This represents another key transaction for AFRIGREEN in Nigeria. The combination of high energy prices, good solar irradiation, and strong demand from industrial and commercial energy users makes this market particularly attractive for companies like WATT. By leveraging these favourable market conditions alongside WATT’s exceptional operational performance and a well-structured financing solution, we are setting the stage for a strong and lasting business partnership.”

The new funding will support WATT in its ambition to roll-out hundreds of hybrid solar power sites nationwide to meet the growing energy demands of C&I industrial clients.

“Indeed, we are thrilled to partner with AFRIGREEN on this transformative journey to expand reliable and sustainable energy solutions across Africa," added Oluwole Eweje, managing director of WATT Renewable Corporation. “With this support, it enables us to accelerate our shared mission of providing hybrid solar power to businesses, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting economic growth while enhancing energy security for our clients.”

According to Sherisse Alexander of WATT Renewables, solar and storage present a ‘win-win’ for Nigeria as it seeks to manage its forthcoming data centre market explosion. Click here to read the opinion piece in full.