February 24, 2025

Load shedding back in South Africa after 10 months

February 23, 2025

Load shedding back in South Africa after 10 months

South Africa's national power utility, Eskom, announced the resumption of load shedding last week, ending a 323-day reprieve. The country is currently implementing stage 4 load shedding, resulting in widespread power outages. This comes amid rising electricity tariffs, which have driven many consumers towards self-generation.

  • Over the past two years, South Africa introduced solar incentives for both residential and business consumers. The residential incentives have expired, with the business incentives scheduled to lapse at the end of February.

  • With solar incentives ending and load shedding returning, the future of South Africa's solar market is uncertain. Will consumers still invest in solar to avoid the unstable grid and rising tariffs, even without government subsidies?

  • Our take: Banks and financing institutions should seize the opportunity presented by load shedding and design attractive energy financing solutions for businesses…Read more (2 min)

The Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) has agreed with UAE-based AMEA Power to develop a 1.5 GWh battery storage system. This will consist of a 0.5 GWh station in Benban and a 1 GWh station in Zafarana. Egypt is rapidly deploying renewables, targeting a 42% share in its electricity mix by 2030.

  • Last week it signed a $2.29 billion agreement with Saudi Arabia-based energy company, ACWA Power to develop a 2 GW wind farm, which will be Africa’s largest energy project.

  • At the same time, Egypt is targeting electricity export markets and is building a transmission line to Saudi Arabia.

  • Our take: Battery storage systems will enable a higher penetration of renewables…Read more (2 min)

Tanzania’s $2.8 billion Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP) is 99.8% complete. Once fully operational it will boost national electricity capacity by 150% producing 2.1 GW of electricity for Tanzanians, enough to meet the current peak demand of 1.9 GW supporting industrialisation and economic development.

  • While hydropower currently provides 17% of Africa’s power, the continent holds the world’s largest untapped hydropower potential, with 90% of its capacity still undeveloped.

  • For instance, only 2 GW of hydropower was added to the existing 40 GW  in 2023, a significantly slower pace compared to solar which increased more than 8% from 2022. 

  • Our take: No renewables revolution will happen in Africa if we continue neglecting hydropower. The African Union's goal of 300 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 will not happen either… Read more (2 min)

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Technology and SaaS company, 3E’s team poses at their Mega Warehouse solar project in Accra, Ghana.

Events

📅 Zambia hosts Bahari Network’s 2nd Edition: Growth Energy (Feb 26)

📅 DR Congo hosts Congo Energy & Investment Forum (Mar 24)

📅 Kenya hosts The Solar Weeks Kenya 2025 (Apr 10)

Jobs

💼 UpEnergy seeks a Country Director (Ghana)

💼 d.light seeks a Regional Stock Controller (Nigeria)

💼 Uwana Energy seeks a Sales Associate (Nigeria)

Various 

🔋 Kenyan start-up rolls out solar-powered refrigerators

🔋 BII invests $4 million in SunCulture to enhance solar irrigation access 

🔋 OSSEDI, Energy Africa pilots improved Stove project in Dowa Malawi

🔋 StarTimes Solar launches advanced H25 model 3KVA solar system

Seen on LinkedIn 

Safiyya Sanusi, Engineer and BD at Sahara Group, says,” Foreign boardrooms no longer dictate the narrative of Africa's energy future but are being crafted in hubs like Abuja, Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Accra. Despite this progress, inadequate infrastructure, regulatory complexities, and global energy dynamics persist. To fully actualise this vision, Africa must reinforce its policies, boost investments, and guarantee energy stability for its populace.”

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