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- February 06, 2025
February 06, 2025
Africa50 to unveil $500 million fund for green projects
Moroccan-based pan-African infrastructure investment platform, Africa50, is establishing the first continent-wide investment vehicle dedicated to off-grid power companies, with plans for a $500 million fund to support green infrastructure projects. Africa50 CEO Alain Ebobissé shared this information in an interview with Bloomberg. |
Africa50 was formed in 2012 by African heads of state to bring innovative solutions to accelerate infrastructure development in line with the African Union's Agenda 2063. It mobilises public and private sector finance and invests in medium- to large-scale projects.
In the last seven years, it has invested in 28 projects across 27 African countries and now manages $1.1 billion in assets. The shareholding countries have grown to 32 from the initial 20 that joined at the inception of the platform.
Our take: To successfully penetrate the African energy market requires addressing the challenge of affordability… Read more (2 min)
Côte d’Ivoire has commenced construction of the $65 million Ferke Solar plant, which will add 52.42 MW to its solar capacity by late 2025. Originally announced in 2024, this is the country’s second plant following the 37.5 MW Boundiali power plant completed in 2023, and it will be the largest in the country upon completion. |
Situated in Ferkéssédougou, approximately 30 kilometers north of Abidjan, the project is being developed by PFO Energies, a subsidiary of PFO Africa, and is currently under construction on a 70-hectare site. Workers have already begun installing 70,000 next-generation solar panels.
The plant will generate 90 GWh annually, nearly doubling the country’s solar capacity, powering 370,000 households, and supporting the country’s target of achieving 45% renewable energy by 2030.
Our take: Despite an ideal irradiation of 3510 Wh/m², Côte d’Ivoire's adaptation to solar power has been slow… Read more (2 min)
The Ministry of Education and Sports in Uganda has launched its first Request for Proposals (RFP) for the provision of electricity through an Energy-as-a-Service model. This initiative will seek to provide reliable power to 45 seed secondary schools across the country and improve learning conditions for thousands of students. |
The Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) model allows institutions like schools to access reliable electricity without the burden of upfront costs and technical expertise. In this model, a third-party company finances, installs, and manages the energy infrastructure, handling all maintenance and operational aspects. The customer pays for the energy service, not the equipment itself, making it a cost-effective and sustainable solution.
The Ministry of Education has allocated $5.5 million in grant funding to cover all electrical work costs and up to 70% of other upfront costs. The remaining upfront costs and ongoing operation and maintenance (O&M) will be financed through fixed quarterly payments over a 10-year service agreement.
Our take: The low electricity access rate is an opportunity for energy companies to explore… Read more (2 min)
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Gridworks Development Partners CEO, Eric Knive speaking at the East Africa Energy Cooperation Summit in Tanzania
Events
📅 Cape Town to host Africa Energy Indaba (Mar 8)
📅 Kitwe to host Zambia International Mining & Energy Conference (Mar 19)
📅 Johannesburg to host Solar & Storage LIVE Africa (Mar 25)
📅 Kampala to host ARE Energy Access Investment Forum 2025 (Apr 8)
Jobs
👔 CrossBoundary Energy seeks a project development director (DRC)
👔 Husk Power Systems seeks a site lead (Nigeria)
👔 Zutari seeks a mechanical engineer (Kenya)
Various
⚡ Sungrow kicks off the first roadshow advancing South African clean power
⚡ UNDP Egypt hosts the First Annual Green Growth Conference
⚡ Husk Power seeks $400m to boost Nigeria operations
Seen on LinkedIn
Reinette vanderMerwe, Senior Electrical Engineer at DNV, says, “The current approach of categorizing DER systems purely based on installation size – while effective for transmission-level Independent Power Producer plants – presents significant challenges when applied to distribution networks.”
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