February 19, 2025

ACWA Power secures 2 GW wind project in Egypt

February 20, 2025

Saudi Arabia-based energy company, ACWA Power, has signed a $2.29 billion agreement with Egypt to develop a 2 GW wind farm, which will be Africa’s largest energy project. The deal was announced at the Egypt Energy Show 2025 this week. ACWA Power will develop, finance, construct, own, and operate the wind plant for 25 years.

  • The project is one of several renewable energy collaborations between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, including a $1.8 billion 3 GW electricity interconnection project. (pictured second left, Egypt President Al-Sisi and Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman)

  • Egypt's renewable energy market has been attracting mega investments. It has over 5 GW of projects in the pipeline.

  • Our take: Egypt is realising its renewable energy potential and rightly wants to tap into it not only for local consumption but for the export market... Read more (2 min)

Zambia is targeting an increase in electricity access from 53.6% to 100% by 2030. To further this ambitious goal, the Zambian government has inked a landmark Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between state-owned power company ZESCO Limited and 29 Independent Power producers (IPPs).

  • This commitment signals a needed trend in African renewables: Governments are finally taking charge of their countries' energy future.

  • Other countries pioneering energy independence include Morocco with the 580 MW Noor Ouarzazate Solar Plant, one of the largest in the world, and Kenya's 800 MW  Olkaria Geothermal Plant making it one of the top geothermal producers globally.

  • Our take: Signing PPAs is one thing, actually getting these projects built and connected to the grid is another. Zambia’s goal borders on improbability … Read more (2 min)

A new energy policy launched by Rwanda this week opens up a $4 billion investment opportunity. The policy outlines the government's plan to achieve universal electricity access by 2035. It prioritises renewable energy sources such as solar and hydro, which are targeted to make up 65% of the energy mix by 2035.

  • Almost half the opportunities will be in electricity generation ($1.5 billion) followed by transmission and distribution at $265.4 million.

  • To promote domestic electricity demand Rwanda has incorporated electric mobility and clean cooking initiatives.

  • Our take: Rwanda has seen success on many fronts, especially in pioneering renewable energy policies that have attracted investments. This policy will take its progress to another level… Read more (2 min)

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Ocanya Samuel, Project Manager at Electricity Access Scale-up Project (EASP) speaking about consumer financing for Productive Use of Energy (PUE) solutions in Uganda

Events

📅 Kenya  hosts Africa Investment Exchange 2025 (Mar 19)

📅 Namibia hosts  Namibia International Energy Conference 2025 (Apr 23)

📅 Ghana hosts Renewable Energy Forum Africa (Nov 11)

Jobs

💼 EOR seeks a Head of Projects / Operations Manager (Kenya/East Africa)

💼 A4&T Power seeks Business Development Executives - C&I (Nigeria)

💼 Globeleq seeks a Finance Manager (Zambia)

Various 

🌍 InfraCo Africa exits Golomoti JCM Solar Corporation

🌍 The East African Community establishes renewable energy centre of excellence

🌍 The Ministry of Energy of Kenya seeks public input on the Draft National Energy Policy 2025–2034

Seen on LinkedIn 

Hamna Tariq, a Research Associate at The Energy for Growth Hub, says, “Heightened electricity demand from data centers could drive investments in Africa’s power systems, boosting local economies and utility revenues. But grid reliability and regulatory uncertainty must be addressed quickly, or the continent risks being left behind in the global AI race.”

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