Solar power lights up Somalian clinics

• Healthcare electrification remains a significant challenge in Africa. According to research by SEforALL, only 28% of healthcare facilities have access to reliable electricity, contributing to poor health outcomes in the region.

• The World Bank, under the Somali Electricity Sector Recovery Project, is supporting the country to close its electrification gap, which affects more than half the population.

• Our take: The approach of integrating solar with battery storage should be the standard moving forward to guarantee that renewable energy sources can reliably contribute to baseload power generation… Read more (2 min)

Arnergy raises $18m to scale solar solutions in Nigeria

• Demand for solar in Nigeria has soared in the last two years due to the removal of a decades-old fuel subsidy, which has more than doubled fuel prices. Many consumers are opting for solar for both residential and commercial use.

• Renewable energy companies across Africa have seen an increase in funding, which is facilitating the rollout of mega-projects led by the private sector. Governments are also enacting policies that support renewables, such as a recent bill in Kenya, which prioritises renewables.

• Our take: Arnergy and other energy providers should embrace emerging ideas such as energy-as-a-service options that can enable low-income customers to access electricity at no upfront cost… Read more (2 min)

April sees solar prices plummet in Nigeria 

• The drop in Nigerian solar panel prices reflects rising competition, forcing suppliers to cut prices. Growing demand for off-grid solutions has attracted more players, growing market offerings and pushing prices down.

• Defying a global trend of falling solar prices, South Africa's market is seeing an increase, directly fuelled by its load shedding crisis, which peaked at a record 6,000 MW last month. Energy insecurity, compounded by a recent 12.7% electricity tariff hike, boosted demand for independent solar solutions.

• Our take: The contrasting fortunes of Nigeria and South Africa in the solar market highlight how local economic conditions and energy reliability can outweigh broader global trends… Read more (2 min)