Ancient giant of Africa’s green economy starts walking

June 04, 2025

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The World Bank is committing $1 billion to support DR Congo in developing the next phase of the 40,000 MW Grand Inga hydropower complex, starting with an initial $250 million. This marks a pivotal step for the project, which had stalled for decades due to conflict, corruption and prohibitive costs. It is now a key part of the World Bank's "Mission 300" program.

  • The Grand Inga Dam will be the largest power plant in the world when (if?) completed. Other countries are already planning around it. South Africa intends to import at least 2,500 MW from the plant.

  • Large-scale hydropower plants often face challenges due to their immense environmental and social impact, high upfront costs, lengthy construction periods and complex political and governance issues.

  • Our take: Could the World Bank's pledge give investors confidence to back the mega project?... Read more (2 min)

Canadian solar home systems provider Solar Panda is taking its solar solutions to West Africa. After operating in Kenya for eight years, it is starting to scale its business operations in Senegal. The company will provide solar home systems on a pay-as-you-go model that has worked well in Kenya, reaching low-income earners in rural areas.

  • West Africa’s solar home system market has grown immensely in the past few years, offering a compelling reason for energy companies to establish a base there. Rural electrification rates remains low at around 30%.

  • Solar Panda joins other solar home system providers, such as PEG Africa, ZOLA Electric, Sun King, Husk Power Systems and Arnergy, among others, competing for market share in rural West African communities.

  • Our take: Solar Panda is banking on a strategic opportunity that others have spotted too… Read more (2 min)

Of the $17.6 billion raised in May, 80% was allocated to grid infrastructure. Solar came in second at 17%. Hydropower, which sees few projects but attracts big-ticket funding, only had a single project that accounted for 2% of the total. Emerging sectors like wind and battery storage received 0.6%, based on data collected by Renewables Rising and first published two days ago.

  • Many African grids have limited power transmission capacity. With renewable projects emerging even in places without grid extension, new projects are integrating grid infrastructure development directly with power plants.

  • Solar continues its dominance due to its decreasing costs, scalability, widespread availability of sunlight, and relatively quicker deployment times.

  • Our take: Renewables growth will demand even more funding for grid infrastructure… Read more (2 min)

RUBiS Energy Kenya launches a solar rooftop system at B. Baun Pharmaceuticals in Athi River

Events

🗓️ Participate in a free solar design webinar (Jun 9)

🗓️ Learn about solar financing in Kenya (Jun 12)

🗓️ Sign up for the Energy Forum for Africa event (Sep 10)

Jobs

👩‍💼 Join Mulilo Energy’s team as a Business Development Manager (South Africa)

🛠️ Become SNV’s Deputy Team Leader/ Project Manager (Zambia)

📊 Apply to EDF Renewables’ AO Supply Chain Specialist role (South Africa)

Various 

🟢 SEforALL seeks a consultancy firm for the Zambia Energy Initiative

♨️ Lagos inaugurates Africa's most extensive clean cookstove initiative

⚡ Elum Energy partners with Krannich Solar on the African training tour 2025

Seen on LinkedIn 

Emmanuel Ocheje, Managing Director at Izenergy, says, “Energy preservation is the new power. And if we can generate abundantly and store efficiently, we’ll be limitless.”