Swiss firm invests $1 billion in Morocco’s solar fuel plant

• The use of solar fuel is not limited to the aviation and shipping industries. It will have a greater impact on the energy space, particularly for power generation.

• Morocco has plentiful solar energy resources, receiving 10 sun hours per day. This is a plus for production. But will this solar fuel be cheap enough to outcompete the old giants of oil and gas?

• Our take: Morocco spends over $5 billion annually to import fuels. Local production of solar fuel can help reduce its foreign expenditure… Read more (2 min)

TotalEnergies leads partnership for African clean energy

• Africa is adopting renewables at a pace slower than its fast-growing population. Nigeria, Ethiopia, and DR Congo are the biggest target markets that the partnership could explore.

• TotalEnergies has financed some renewable energy projects in Africa. However, their continued investment in oil and gas raises concerns. Will these conflicting interests slow down the adoption of renewables?

• Our take: Africa has roughly 39% of the global renewable energy potential, yet only less than 1% has been tapped… Read more (2 min)

SA's private sector projects have tripled in the last two years

• This surge impacts South Africa's state-owned utility, Eskom, and other African energy providers, potentially catalysing a continent-wide renewables revolution. Increased competition among generators could lead to more efficient pricing and lower electricity costs in the long run.

• The revolution is driven by bold regulatory reforms including South Africa’s 2024 Electricity Regulation Act that introduced an open electricity market, allowing private players to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity to their customers.

• Our take: Despite government incentives coming to an end this February, South Africa’s solar energy market is expected to maintain growth momentum… Read more (2 min)

_________//___________