Browsing: Africa’s aging hydropower fleet

The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) (https://bit.ly/3tZp0eB) has approved a $1 million grant for the modernization of Africa’s aging hydropower fleet.

The grant will fund the mapping and evaluation of African hydropower facilities’ rehabilitation needs. It will also support the preparation of modernization works for two pilot facilities to a bankable stage, a move expected to add 200 MW in generation capacity, create 150 jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 300 kilotons of CO₂ annually. The modernization of hydropower stations is an opportunity to increase generation capacity at low-cost, and with relatively short lead times and minimal environmental impact.

Modern hydropower plays a key role in Africa’s energy transition, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and anchoring larger shares of Variable Renewable Energy sources. This transformative program under SEFA’s Green Baseload component will specifically capitalize on the significant market opportunity for rehabilitation of Africa’s existing …