Nashvillian's solar device helps vendors in Africa

  Nashville resident Mawuli Tse has brought solar power to more than 600 homes in urban parts of Ghana and nearby countries through his company, Solar Light. Now, he is using energy from the sun to help those in more rural communities — this time through street vendor umbrellas and a mobile phone charging kit. With the help of a $100,000 grant from the United States African Development Foundation and General Electric, Tse is creating a portable charger powered by.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 12th January 2015

Oil and Gas industry showing better appreciation for local content participation – SBC

 A research by Schlumberger’s strategic management consulting arm Schlumberger Business Consulting (SBC) says there is a better appreciation by the oil and gas industry of the need for local content participation.   This follows the outcome of a local content forum by SBC dubbed “Optimizing Local Benefits from Oil & Gas Projects”   that brought together E&P operators, regulatory bodies, EPC contractors, tertiary educational institutions and.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 9th January 2015

Menengai geothermal to save nation Ksh 13 billion

Kenya will save about Ksh 13 billion annually once the 105 MW geothermal power plants start to operate in Menengai, Nakuru by end of 2015.    The project run by the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) has now awarded three IPPs land where they will put up power plants. The company is also constructing a major steam gathering pipeline that will distribute the steam from wells to turbines.   “We now have three new investors partnering with the government to lower.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 9th January 2015

Will 2015 be the year of solar power across Africa?

In January 2015, South Africa’s Minister of Energy will announce another doubling of the renewable energy capacity in the country. The Republic is struggling with regular blackouts due to breakdowns in its aging fleet of mainly coal power plants. The Government has decided to accelerate and expand the solar and wind programs for two reasons: Wind and solar photovoltaics (PV) are not only competitive with coal and gas in terms of price, but they can also, and.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 9th January 2015

Drilling of Badada-1 well in Kenya’s Block 2B begins

Block 2B operator Taipan Resources through its subsidiary Lion Petroleum has announced that the GW-190 rig has spudded Badada-1 well with the well planned to be drilled to a total depth f between 3000 and 4000 meters.   The well which will take 70 days to complete will test tertiary age reservoirs similar to those in Block 10BB, 13T in the Lokichar basin where Tullow and its partner have discovered oil.   According to Taipan CEO Maxwell Birley the spudding of Badada-1.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 9th January 2015

Rising electricity prices is good news for solar energy users

Amid rising petrol prices and threats of interest rate hikes, there’s one ballooning cost that solar energy users don’t need to worry about: increasing electricity prices. To the dismay of householders and businesses alike, Eskom and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) are in discussions that could result in yet another hike in electricity prices – by as much as 12.69%. While this comes as no surprise, it is still painful news for a country where.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 8th January 2015

GDF Suez as forerunner for solar bid in SA’s REIPPP programme

The Department of Energy in South Africa, has granted French electric utility company, GDF Suez as the preferred bidder in the latest round of its REIPPP programme for the 100MW Kathu Solar Park in the country’s North West province. Having been granted preferred bidder status, invites GDF Suez to enter into a 20 year power purchase agreement with state utility, Eskom.   This is not the first instance of the company’s involvement in South Africa’s renewable.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 8th January 2015

Ethiopia adds a further 1 870 MW with Gigel Gibe III Hydroelectric Project

The Gilgel Gibe III Hydropower project, constructed and situated on the Omo River in Ethiopia is expected to, once completed, generate 1 870 MW of power assisting in meeting the energy needs of those residing in Ethiopia and neighbouring countries. Construction of the 243m concrete dam began in 2008, and is scheduled to start generating power in early 2015. It is reported that Gigel Gibe III’s ten 187MW turbine units will boost Ethiopia’s energy coverage by 94%. According.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 8th January 2015

Ethiopia’s Gilgel Gibe 3 project could start power generation by June

A much-delayed $1.8 billion dam project under construction along Ethiopia’s Omo river could begin generating power by June and be fully operational by early 2016, an official said on Thursday. Gilgel Gibe 3 will nearly double the country’s energy output, helping to resolve chronic power outages and sustain a booming economy. Work started in 2008 and was due to be completed around three years later, but the project has faced funding shortages over concerns about its.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 8th January 2015

M-KOPA Solar named a Top100 Global clean technology company

Nairobi, Kenya – October 13th 2014: M-KOPA Solar has been recognized as a top 100 global clean technology company in the 2014 Global Cleantech 100 awards – which are presented to the most innovative and promising ideas by companies to solve tomorrow’s clean technology challenges. M-KOPA Solar is the Nairobi-based market leader in ‘pay-as-you-go’ energy services for off-grid homes. Since its commercial launch two years ago, it has powered up 100,000.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 8th January 2015

Solarcentury completes East Africa’s largest solar project

1MWp solar PV project bringing clean green energy to Kenyan tea farm Williamson Tea has unveiled East Africa’s largest solar project at its Changoi Tea Farm in Bomet County, Western Kenya. The solar system will cut Williamson Tea’s energy costs by around 30%, supplying clean solar electricity during the daytime to meet most of the tea processing factory’s energy demand. Williamson Tea’s system will reduce the need for grid electricity and the consumption of.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 8th January 2015

Largest Solar Power Plant in Africa Flips the Switch

With seven of the world’s fastest growing economies located in Africa, it should not be a surprise that the continent’s energy demands will only surge in the coming decade. Hence plenty of opportunities exist for clean energy companies as investors worldwide realize Africa, with all of its risks, is a booming market. To that end, California-based Solar Reserve, together with numerous partners, has completed and launched the Jasper PV Project in South Africa. Built in.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 8th January 2015