Browsing: Solar Energy in Africa

• Africa is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, which not only contribute to climate change, but also make the continent vulnerable to price fluctuations in the global oil market.
• Renewable energy projects in Africa, such as solar and wind power, are starting to gain momentum and are showing great promise as a solution to these challenges.
• Investing in renewable energy in Africa not only helps to address these challenges, but also brings a host of benefits.

As the world continues to shift towards a more sustainable future, Africa is emerging as a key player in the renewable energy sector. With vast stretches of land and abundant sunshine, Africa has the potential to harness the power of the sun and wind to generate electricity, creating economic opportunities and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Currently, Africa’s energy sector faces significant challenges. Many countries in the region lack access to electricity, with nearly 600 …

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are less expensive and easier to construct than other renewable energy sources, such as wind or hydroelectric turbines.

They also generate electricity at an efficiency of approximately 42%, which is about two percentage points higher than the efficiency of wind turbines.

The ever-increasing need for energy, the ongoing push to lessen reliance on fossil fuels for the generation of power, as well as financial incentives and regulatory support for the expansion of solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies contribute to this trend are all drivers that are propelling solar energy forward.

In addition to the low installation and maintenance costs, other drivers propelling solar energy forward include rising energy demand.…

A new report has revealed that biases in the estimation of solar production in Africa can lead to up to a 20 percent reduction in savings for African businesses.

This is according the Measuring Solar Irradiation in Africa: A case for change by CrossBoundary Energy which adds that such biases also cause between 1 and 2 percent reduction in the internal rate of return for solar developers and investors.

The report also indicates current methods that the solar industry uses for estimating solar production across the continent are unreliable.

Commenting on the report, Lenny Matei, co-author and Senior Project Engineer at CrossBoundary Energy, says that for most commercial and industrial (C&I) clients, a major factor in awarding projects is the electricity tariff and resulting savings offered.

Unilever and CrossBoundary Energy unveils 619 kWp solar plant in Kenya

He added that an often-overlooked factor is the estimated solar irradiation on site …

The 2020 Off-Grid Solar Market Trends Report that has been released this month reveals how Africa could reap high benefits in the near future.

The report is basically an in-depth analysis of current market dynamics, projections for the coming five years, and also a blueprint to helps various actors compete in a robust evolving industry ecosystem.

The report, which is the fifth in a series, published by the World Bank Group and the Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA), drew in about 1,000 industry leaders, financiers and government representatives by showcasing key industry trends, advances in technology, finance, policy and social impacts.

The 2020 edition spotlighted the industry remarkably, in fact—the edition estimates that the off-grid solar sector currently caters lighting and other auxiliary services to over 420 million people.

Noting that the industry has made enormous efforts in the past decade to assist the developing countries to attain their energy …