CrossBoundary Energy is powering the project's first sites with solar PV, battery, and generator solutions, providing 99.9% uptime while reducing fossil fuel emissions. (Image source: CrossBoundary Energy)

Zoodlabs, a telecommunications firm headquartered in Sierra Leone, has revealed that it is leveraging renewable energy to drive the rollout of one of the country’s first 5G data networks

The announcement was made at the Digital Government Summit in Freetown.

Powering 5G sustainably?

To power the initial rollout, Zoodlabs is partnering with CrossBoundary Energy, which is supplying a hybrid energy system combining solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, battery storage, and generator backup. This setup is designed to deliver 99.9% uptime while significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Additionally, CrossBoundary Energy is financing five of the 5G towers to help fast-track deployment.

Oliver Benham, director of operations for telecom solutions at CrossBoundary Energy, said, “Our solution is designed to maximise uptime whilst increasing renewable energy penetration and minimising diesel generator usage. The effect is that telecom operators like Zoodlabs have a reliable, affordable, and cleaner way of powering their network that does not rely on utility energy supply or fossil fuels.”

The introduction of 5G is expected to substantially boost data speeds, lower latency, and increase device connectivity across the country. With broadband penetration standing at just 20.7%, this wireless solution sidesteps the need for extensive cable infrastructure and helps improve digital access for individuals and businesses in Freetown.

David Kapkima, CEO at Zoodlabs, commented, “5G is not just about faster phones—it’s a foundational technology for smart cities, autonomous vehicles, remote healthcare, and businesses that rely on IoT. CrossBoundary Energy’s specialized knowledge in solar energy solutions has enabled Zoodlabs to power this infrastructure sustainably.”

The first towers are already operational in Freetown, with plans underway to expand 5G access nationwide in the coming phases.

Turning cocoa waste into energy

The Divo project — an innovative scheme in Côte d’Ivoire to develop the world’s first grid-connected cocoa waste-to-energy plant — has attracted a further US$3mn in financing support

Blended finance investor Climate Fund Managers (CFM) and Ivorian IPP Société Des Energies Nouvelles (SODEN) have signed a development funding agreement to co-develop the 76MW project that will convert 600,000 tonnes of agricultural waste from cocoa production into renewable electricity.

Under the deal, CFM has committed US$3mn to develop the project, its first investment in Côte d’Ivoire.

The development funding will support a range of preparatory activities, including technical design, permitting, environmental and social studies, concession negotiations with the government and finalisation of a long-term power purchase agreement.

The world’s first industrial-scale, grid-connected cocoa biomass plant, the project will generate 550 GWh of renewable electricity per year from agricultural waste at a site in Divo, a major cocoa-producing region 200km north of the capital Abidjan.

Ultimately, it will serve 1.4 million people with clean electricity, creating additional income for 36,000 cocoa farmers and avoiding 300,000 tonnes of around CO₂ annually.

SODEN has already invested around US$2mn to advance the scheme to the current stage of concession negotiations with the Ivorian government, which began in August 2024 and are expected to conclude soon.

“The Divo plant offers an innovative and scalable solution to Côte d’Ivoire’s energy and climate goals,” said Yapi Ogou, CEO of SODEN.

“Each year, cocoa production leaves behind millions of tonnes of waste that goes unused and provides no economic value to farmers. By harnessing this untapped resource to generate clean, reliable energy, we’re turning a national challenge into an opportunity for sustainable growth, rural prosperity, and a more resilient energy system.”

Once operational, the plant will convert 600,000 tonnes of agricultural waste per year — primarily cocoa pod husks, bean shells and rubber trees that have reached the end of their economic life — into renewable baseload electricity for the national grid.

Côte d’Ivoire produces over 45% of the world’s cocoa.

For every tonne harvested, more than 13 tonnes of waste are left to rot at the farm gate, which releases methane, contributes to plant disease and represents a missed economic opportunity for farmers.

The Divo project has been under development since 2016 and, in 2018, received a US$996,000 grant from the US Trade and Development Agency for feasibility studies.

While Côte d’Ivoire has initiated other agricultural biomass projects using palm oil waste, the project is the first to industrially process cocoa waste at scale and supply the national grid.

“This project demonstrates the vital role of blended finance in bringing complex, first-of-its-kind infrastructure to life in frontier markets like Côte d’Ivoire,” said Darron Johnson, regional head of Africa at CFM.

“By using public capital to fund early-stage development, we can unlock private capital at scale — delivering not only clean energy and rural livelihoods, but also setting a precedent for future investment in the country.”

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Scatec has been named preferred bidder for a 123 MW/492 MWh battery energy storage project in South Africa’s Free State Province. (Image source: Scatec)

Scatec ASA has secured preferred bidder status for the Haru Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project under South Africa’s third bid window of the Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP)

The project, with a total capacity of 123 MW/492 MWh, has been awarded by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE).

Under a 15-year agreement, Scatec will be compensated for providing storage capacity to the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA), which will deploy the energy storage to help stabilise the national electricity grid.

Grid stability boost

The total capital expenditure for the project is estimated at ZAR 2.2 billion (approximately US$120mn), with about 80% of this allocated to engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracts managed by Scatec. Financing will be structured with 90% non-recourse project debt and 10% equity from project owners.

“Today’s award reaffirms our standing as a leading renewable energy player in South Africa. We applaud the South African government’s commitment and dedication to the renewable energy procurement programmes. Battery energy storage will continue to play an important role in the energy transition, and we will continue to be at the forefront across our core markets,” stated Terje Pilskog, CEO of Scatec.

The Haru project builds upon Scatec’s experience with hybrid solar and storage solutions, such as the Kenhardt project and the ongoing Mogobe BESS development, reinforcing the company’s role in enhancing grid reliability through integrated battery storage.

“Dispatchable energy and grid infrastructure are now more important than ever, in the pathway to unlock the sustainability of South Africa’s current and future energy system,” said Alberto Gambacorta, general manager and executive vice-president, sub-Saharan Africa, Scatec.

Equity in the project will be shared among Scatec (50.01%), Stanlib’s Greenstreet and Redstreet Funds (44.99%), and a Community Trust (5%). Scatec will also be responsible for EPC, operations and maintenance (O&M), and asset management (AM) services.

According to the DMRE, commercial close is expected by the end of Q1 2026. The Haru BESS project will be located in South Africa’s Free State Province.

Africa's largest wind farm. (Image credit: AMEA Power)

AMEA Power has announced the commissioning of Africa's largest wind farm, located in Egypt

The 500MW wind power plant, in Ras Ghareb in the Red Sea Governorate, becomes the biggest operational wind farm in the whole of Africa, and solidifies Egypt’s position as a leading light in the continent’s renewable energy transition.

The milestone follows the recent commissioning in November 2024 of AMEA Power’s 500MW solar PV plant in Aswan, bringing the company’s total commissioned capacity in Egypt to 1 gigawatt (GW) within just six months.

The company said in a statement that the rapid deployment marks a significant achievement in scaling up clean and reliable energy on the continent.

“The commissioning of the 500MW wind power plant in the Red Sea Governorate, marks a significant milestone for AMEA Power, and for Egypt," said Hussain Al Nowais, chairman of AMEA Power.

"Bringing 1GW of clean energy online in such a short period is a tremendous achievement and a reflection of our deep commitment to delivering impactful renewable energy solutions.”

The newest project, the Amunet wind power plant, is a joint venture between AMEA Power (60%) and Sumitomo Corporation (40%).

It is expected to generate approximately 2,500 GWh of clean electricity annually, enough to power more than 500,000 homes, while offsetting 1.4 million tons of CO₂ emissions each year.

The project was completed 2.5 months ahead of schedule, underlining AMEA Power’s ability to execute complex renewable energy projects with speed and precision.

The construction phase also delivered substantial local economic benefits, employing over 800 workers at peak.

Financing was provided by a consortium of international institutions, including the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank.

The commercial tranche of the financing was backed by insurance from Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), with additional working capital support from the Commercial International Bank of Egypt.

“This is the future of power generation in Africa – clean, inclusive, and tranformational,” added Al Nowais.

AMEA Power’s extensive portfolio in Egypt also includes 1,000MW of solar PV with a 600MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Aswan Governorate, an additional 500MW wind project in Red Sea Governorate, and an extension of the 500MW solar PV plant with a 300MWh BESS in Aswan Governorate.

It also has two other BESS projects in its Egyptian portfolio, including a 500MWh BESS project in Zarfana and a 1,000MWh BESS project in Benban.

The company is similarly active across the continent, with multiple projects spanning all corners of Africa. 

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