Private capital powers the continent’s most remote corners

September 16, 2025

Dear subscriber, this is a prototype. Please help us with feedback and tips. Just press reply.

The Mauritanian government has signed a landmark agreement to build the country’s first hybrid renewable power plant, combining 160 MW of solar, 60 MW of wind and 370 MWh of battery energy storage system. This will be the largest project ever undertaken in the country, with its capacity nearly equal to half of its total current installed power.

  • This public-private partnership (PPP) shows how even cash-strapped governments are able to accelerate the adoption of renewables in Africa.

  • The project will power hundreds of thousands of households, marking a big step toward Mauritania’s goal of achieving universal electrification by 2030.

  • Our take: Transmission infrastructure must be integrated into all major greenfield projects located far from existing power lines… Read more (2 min)

Off-grid solar firms have secured the top four spots in this month’s company ranking. Sun King takes the top spot, followed by Bboxx, d.light and Engie respectively. Engie Africa led in hiring with 221 senior hires over the past 12 months. All of the companies mentioned above have secured deals this year to scale operations in the off-grid solar sector.

  • The sector is advancing in local currency financing, with mini-grid company Husk Power securing its first naira-denominated facility, after solar home system provider Sun King closed a similar deal in July.

  • The ranking by Renewables Rising relies on LinkedIn data and combines metrics such as number of employees, growth, sales teams, experience, tenure and education for insights into company recruitment and workforce.

  • Our take: Off-grid solar hiring trends indicate direction in Africa’s energy transition… Read more (2 min)

African countries missed past industrial revolutions and now risk falling behind in the fourth, which is defined around green economies, writes KCB Group CEO Paul Russo, in today’s opinion article. The continent is rich in mineral resources and human capital, which it could utilise to shift from a raw material supplier to a producer of finished products.

  • Mr Russo, the chairman of the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA), says the bank is committed to green growth and will allocate 25% of its loan portfolio to green initiatives by the end of the year. 

  • He stresses that Africa’s “fourth revolution,” powered by clean energy and sustainability, offers the continent a chance to rewrite its industrial story, if decisive financing and execution are prioritised.

  • Read full opinion article here… Read time (3 min)

Prado Power hosts representatives from the Africa Minigrid Developers Association during their visit to Nigeria

Events

🗓️ Be at the African Energy Week 2025: Invest In Africa Energy event (Sep 23)

🗓️ Register for the Solar Africa Tanzania 2025 forum (Oct 8)

🗓️ Attend the Sustainability and ESG Africa Conference in SA (Oct 15)

Jobs

👩🏻‍🔧 Become Siemens Gamesa’s Service Technician - Wind (Egypt)

👨‍🔧 Spearhead Vestas’ site supervision at Chaba Wind Farm (South Africa)

⚙️ Join Sun King as a Quality Assurance & Learning Assessor (Malawi)

Various 

⚡ Norfund backs MOPO, a solar-powered battery firm targeting Africa

💡 Senegalese agriculture to be modernised through a $300M solar deal

💰 SunCulture receives $5 million from WaterEquity’s first investment in new fund

🤝 Zambia, Zimbabwe formalise pacts focusing on energy and trade cooperation

Seen on LinkedIn 

Ebipere Clark, Managing Partner at Frontier Alpha LLP, says, “Off-grid solar is quietly overtaking the grid”