Energy

AMEA Power unveils Africa’s largest solar project

AMEA Power signs PPAs for Africa's largest solar PV and Egypt’s first utility-scale battery storage projects, boosting clean energy future. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

AMEA Power, a rapidly expanding renewable energy company, has signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to develop Africa’s largest solar PV project and Egypt’s first utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS)

Following the successful 500MW Abydos Solar PV Project, AMEA Power has secured two new landmark renewable energy projects in Egypt. The first is a 1,000MW solar PV power plant, coupled with a 600MWh BESS, to be constructed in the Benban area of the Aswan Governorate. This will become the largest solar PV and BESS project on the African continent. The second is a 300MWh BESS, expanding the existing 500MW Abydos Solar PV plant in Kom Ombo, Aswan. This project will pioneer the first utility-scale BESS solution in Egypt.

AMEA Power has formalized these projects by signing PPAs with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company.

With a total investment of US$800mn, these projects underscore AMEA Power's commitment to Egypt’s clean energy transition and cement the country as a strategic focus for its future expansion. The projects are expected to generate around 2,500 jobs during peak construction and will provide clean energy to more than 769,800 homes, offsetting over 2,347,000 tons of carbon emissions annually.

Hussain Al Nowais, chairman of AMEA Power, remarked, “As the developer of the largest solar PV project in Africa and the first developer to undertake BESS in Egypt, our projects not only set a new benchmark in the renewable energy sector in Egypt and on the Continent but also demonstrates our leadership and innovative spirit in pushing the boundaries of what is possible. We are honored to play such a pivotal role in shaping the future of clean energy in Egypt and on the Continent and this investment is a testament to AMEA Power’s commitment to deliver large-scale renewable energy solutions. These projects are not just about generating power, they are catalysts for economic growth, job creation, and community empowerment. By investing in Egypt’s energy future, we are reinforcing our dedication to driving positive change and supporting socio-economic development across the regions we serve.”

This significant investment in renewable energy will not only enhance Egypt’s energy security and diversification but also help the country achieve its ambitious clean energy targets. Once operational, these projects will be crucial in addressing Egypt’s recent power outages. AMEA Power is proud to be at the forefront of the country’s transition toward a sustainable energy future.

AMEA Power is also committed to working closely with local communities, contributing to socio-economic development through its 'Community Investment and Development Programs.'

Hybrid microgrid transforms telecom power

Caterpillar launches a hybrid microgrid system for telecom towers, reducing diesel use and emissions by 80%, while cutting operating costs. (Image source: Caterpillar)

Caterpillar Inc. has introduced an innovative integrated microgrid power system designed for telecommunications towers

This system is capable of reducing diesel fuel consumption and related carbon emissions by up to 80%, while also lowering total ownership and operational costs.

Initially available through Cat dealers in Africa and the Middle East, the system integrates solar PV panels and a Cat diesel generator to power telecom infrastructure while fully charging an energy time-shift storage system. When solar power isn’t available, such as at night or during bad weather, power is sourced from energy storage.

These hybrid power systems are particularly advantageous in remote regions where grid power is unreliable or absent, and where fuel delivery is both expensive and logistically difficult. The systems are designed to reduce total costs of ownership, slash fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and maximise reliability.

The modular structure of this system allows for scalability, enabling additional components to be added as power needs increase with growing traffic or network upgrades.

This proven system is also available through an Energy-as-a-Service agreement, offering a turnkey solution that addresses both power requirements and climate-related goals without the need for customers to buy or maintain the assets. Deployed and supported by select Cat dealers, this service agreement allows telecom operators to spread out startup costs while outsourcing maintenance and service responsibilities, reducing the risk of system obsolescence.

"As customers embark on the energy transition journey, they are seeking tailored solutions to meet their requirements," said Stephanie Baughman, retail vice-president for Caterpillar Electric Power. "Our hybrid solution for telecommunications towers combines next-generation power technologies with industry expertise and a flexible service agreement that delivers a sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective solution to our customers."

Caterpillar remains committed to a low-carbon future through ongoing investments in advanced products, technologies, and services. These include commercially available power solutions using hydrogen fuel; Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) software for energy asset management; a complete suite of hybrid energy technologies; Cat combined heat and power (CHP) and combined cooling, heat, and power (CCHP) systems; support for fuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), biodiesel, and fuel blends; and expertise in waste-to-energy applications like landfill gas and biogas.

MIGA-ISA solar facility launched

MIGA and ISA launch the MIGA-ISA Solar facility to enhance solar energy access with concessional financing, focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), a part of the World Bank Group, and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) have unveiled the MIGA-ISA Solar Facility, a multi-donor trust fund

This initiative, supported by the Indian government, aims to broaden global access to renewable energy.

The facility will integrate ISA’s technical expertise with MIGA’s financial mobilisation capabilities, creating an innovative approach to boost global solar energy adoption. It will provide concessional financing, including first-loss instruments and reinsurance, to enhance project viability and reduce the cost of MIGA guarantees. Additionally, MIGA and ISA will collaborate on launching new solar and distributed energy projects in eligible developing nations, with an initial focus on Sub-Saharan Africa and plans for worldwide expansion. This effort is part of a broader initiative supported by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank to deliver 300 million new electricity connections in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.

Administered by MIGA, the facility will scale up guarantee issuances and attract private investment for solar and distributed energy projects, offering affordable risk mitigation solutions to support growth in ISA member countries. ISA has committed US$2mn in seed funding with a target to raise US$10mn for the facility, which is the inaugural program under ISA’s Global Solar Facility (GSF) aimed at raising US$200mn for African projects.

“MIGA is delighted to host the MIGA-ISA Solar Facility and support Sub-Saharan Africa in accessing reliable and clean electricity,” said Hiroshi Matano, MIGA executive vice- president. “The facility will attract private investment by providing risk mitigation and concessional financing, helping to lower costs and close the energy gap in underserved regions.”

To kickstart the facility, MIGA and ISA have already initiated a solar project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This project is expected to cut operating costs by around 20%, leading to reduced tariffs for customers.

“ISA is excited to collaborate with MIGA on the facility to provide cost-effective guarantee solutions for decentralized solar projects in Africa,” said Ajay Mathur, ISA director general. “This is an important milestone in the roll out of ISA’s GSF. We look forward to delivering clean energy through this program to impact the lives of millions of Africans who remain off-grid to date.”

With approximately 675 million people lacking electricity access, and an anticipated 660 million remaining without power by 2030, the World Bank Group and African Development Bank are collaborating on a major effort to provide electricity to at least 300 million people in Africa by 2030.

Inside Infinity Power’s 10GW renewable target

An overhead shot of the Taiba N’Diaye Wind Farm in Senegal.

The 158.7MW Taiba N’Diaye Wind Farm in Senegal. (Image source: Infinity Power)

Infinity Power, a joint venture between Infinity and Masdar, has set a target of developing 10GW of operational renewable energy across Africa by 2030, and Ahmed Mulla, deputy CEO of the company, sat down Africa Review with to explore this progress

African Review (AR): What progress has been made towards the 10GW goal and are you on course to meet it?

Ahmed Mulla (AM): 10,000MW is a very ambitious target, but currently around 600 million people in Africa – 50% of the population – are without energy access. So, in that context, there is plenty that can be done. Africa is infrastructure. As such, we are working on providing holistic proposals that complement renewable energy generation from solar, wind, biomass and hydro, with the inclusion of battery storage, that is necessary in order to connect the generation to the demand centres.

If we look at our shareholders, we have the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), whose major shareholder is TAQA. TAQA is heavily interested and invested in infrastructure. Another of our shareholders is the Africa Finance Corporation, also heavily focused on infrastructure in the continent.

We don’t just have the financial backing of our shareholders, but also their expertise and willpower to invest in the necessary foundations to deploy the renewable energy required.

AR: How are you countering some of the challenges that come associated with financing projects on the continent?

AM: We are venturing out of our core markets (Egypt and South Africa) which have a bankable, predictable regime and tenders. We are going into new markets, some of which do not have the ability to provide sovereign guarantees, and this is one challenge we see.

Sovereign guarantee is one of the benchmarks that is required by the international financial institutions to deliver a bankable opportunity. Now we are working with many of our partners and legal service providers to come up with innovative solutions that can cover the risks that normally would be covered by a sovereign guarantee, but through service providers in the industry. This would enable us to unlock many challenging markets that have a high demand but, in the past, were inaccessible due to the unavailability of these guarantees.

Discover the full interview in the September issue of African Review

Astronergy to ship 1GW of solar modules to Algeria

A wide shot of the Benban solar plant in Egypt which uses Astronergy solar modules.

The 165.6MW Benban solar plant in Egypt, which uses Astronergy solar module products. (Image source: Astronergy)

Astrongergy, an intelligent manufacturing enterprise focusing on photovoltaic cells and modules, is preparing to ship 1GW of n-type TOPCon solar modules to Algeria as part of the country’s 1GW solar plant construction plan

The company announced the order after winning the tenders from China International Water & Electric Corp. and the Power Construction Corporation of China. It will be part of the 2GW power plant construction plan proposed by Algeria’s state-owned power utility, Sonelgaz. This will include the delivering of 15 solar plants across the country’s 12 provinces, each with a capacity ranging from 80-220MW, most of which will be built by Chinese companies.

Astronergy won six of these major projects: Abadla (80MW), Batemete (220MW), Gueltet Sidi Saad (200MW), Douar El Maa (200MW), Ouled Djellal (80MW), and Biskra (220MW). Construction on the latter, Biskra, has already begun, making use of Astrongergy’s N5 TOPCon solar modules.