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- Overlooked until recently, now hydro power is back
Overlooked until recently, now hydro power is back
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 | The World Bank will fund Mozambique's 1,500 MW Mphanda Nkuwa hydropower plant, set to be Southern Africa's largest hydroelectric project. Though the exact amount is undisclosed, the Bank is backing the $5 billion plant and a $1.4 billion transmission line. This was revealed by World Bank President Ajay Banga in an interview with Bloomberg. |
The World Bank plans to provide debt and equity funding for the project. It will also offer risk guarantees and insurance to help ensure construction stays on schedule.
Once completed, the dam will significantly boost local mineral processing and revenue from electricity sales. In 2024, Mozambique earned at least $431 million from selling electricity to South Africa and Zambia.
Our take: This is not the first large-scale hydro project to win backing in recent months… Read more (2 min)
 | At least 448 new senior hires joined 10 renewable energy companies in Africa in the past one year. Global giants Scatec and EDF added 156 and 150, respectively, accounting for two-thirds of all hires. South Africa-based Mulilo Energy onboarded 58 new staff, marking an aggressive period in which its new additions make up a third of its total employees. |
In July, the top ten firms added 26 senior staff. That brings the total number of senior employees to 2,297. The analysis is based on LinkedIn data collected by Renewables Rising.
Globeleq, sixth on our list, stands out for its resurgent momentum: It registered the steepest monthly positive shift among its peers. This reflects increased project activity, notably across southern African utility-scale solar and wind portfolios.
Our take: Battery energy storage projects are showing their strengths in hiring patterns at Scatec and EDF… Read more (2 min)
 | The off-grid solar sector is experiencing a major funding shortage, with investment in last-mile companies dropping sharply, so says Corentin Billiet. In today's opinion article he argues that serving certain communities isn't commercially viable without external support. The sector needs more subsidies, philanthropic capital and public funding. |
Mr Billiet is a senior investment officer for ElectriFI, an EU-funded firm focused on increasing renewable energy access in emerging markets.
He argues that achieving universal energy access requires a fundamental shift in how we approach funding and business models.
The Nuclear Society of Kenya attends a public dialogue on nuclear energy at Strathmore University.
Events
🗓️ Participate in a webinar about the hydrogen water connection (Jul 24)
🗓️ Learn how smart metering reshapes water security (Aug 7)
🗓️ Sign up for C&I Energy + Storage Summit in Zambia (Aug 28)
Jobs
💼 Apply for IFC’s Investment Officer position (Ghana)
👷🏻♀️ Lead Mulilo’s wind procurement operations (South Africa)
🦺 Become EDF Renewables’ People Operations Specialist (South Africa)
Various
💵 AFC obtains $255 million for sustainable African infrastructure
🔋 Gutami inks PPA for 150 MW solar/storage hybrid in Burkina Faso
⚡ Kenya Power tenders consultancy services for Last Mile Connectivity project
Seen on LinkedIn
Diella Uka, Professor of Dentistry at ISPE College, says, “We keep talking about building a greener future…But why are we still covering fertile fields with solar panels, when thousands of car parks sit empty and sun-drenched every day?”