Africa’s hydro giant roars to life

July 07, 2025

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The Ethiopian government has announced the completion of the 5 GW Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Africa's largest hydro plant. It has long fuelled tensions with Egypt and Sudan over water rights. But it now enables Ethiopia to significantly expand its role as a regional power exporter, having recently inked a supply deal with Tanzania.

  • The mega-dam has been primarily funded by Ethiopian taxes since its inception in 2011, costing more than $4 billion. This is a show of confidence that Africa can rely on internal resources for mega-projects.

  • Ethiopia now generates the cheapest electricity in Africa, attracting manufacturers and positioning itself as a regional industrial hub.

  • Our take: Ethiopia will explore connecting to more countries to export surplus electricity… Read more (2 min)

Nigeria gets Africa’s biggest panel manufacturing plant 

Tranos, a Nigeria-based manufacturing firm, has commenced construction of an 800 MW solar PV panel factory in Ogun State. Once complete, it will increase Nigeria’s total solar manufacturing capacity to approximately 1,100 MW. This positions the country to locally meet more than half the current demand for solar panel imports.

  • Nigeria’s recent plan to ban solar imports has spurred local manufacturing interest. Since then, companies like LPV Technologies and NASENI have emerged, although Tranos’ facility is the first of its kind at this scale.

  • The country now follows South Africa in localising panel production. Last week, power plant builder Juwi announced sourcing panels from a JA Solar plant in Cape Town.

  • Our take: Nigeria’s large domestic market, growing renewable energy targets, and emerging manufacturing base position it as a potential solar manufacturing hub… Read more (2 min)

Kenyan famers suffer significant post-harvest losses, with about 40% of food being lost between farm and table. Innovative solar solutions, like DC-powered freezers, can help solve some of these issues. We spoke with Belinda Okech, an energy consultant, to discuss various sectors where solar technology presents significant opportunities.

  • Mrs Okech has worked for Sun King, Davis & Shirtliff, and Herholdt’s Group, a South African company. Currently, she is a renewable energy consultant at Merculex Energy Solutions.

  • She states that when energy is directly linked to income generation, its impact multiplies. Initial solar costs are high, but a unit quickly pays for itself.

  • Click here for full conversation.. Read more (2 min)

AfDB & AIIB partner to drive African energy and economic growth in Paris, France

 

Events

🗓️ Attend the Mauritius Clean Energy Week 2025 event  (Jul 16)

🗓️ Sign up for Tanzania’s Solar Africa 2025 Expo (Oct 10)

🗓️ Participate in the Trans Africa Investment Summit (Nov 7)

Jobs

🚧 Become Energy Upgrade Africa’s Technical Project Manager (Tanzania)

👩🏻‍💻 Be Mulilo’s Corporate Affairs & Communication Associate (South Africa)

👷🏻‍♂️ Join Scatec Solar as an Electric Assistant (South Africa)

Various 

💰 ECOWAS rolls out $75 million energy fund at the Global Finance Summit

⚡ Nigeria's Zamfara State and the REA sign on solar energy deal

💡 Huawei unveils advanced fgOTN technology  to African electricity networks

Seen on LinkedIn 

Sandra Kirongothi, Research and Development Assistant at Knight Energy KE, says, “We must nurture an entrepreneurial mindset, especially in the energy space. There’s so much room to innovate, create solutions, and drive sustainability through our unique skills.”