Renewables drive SA’s energy storage demand

• To combat South Africa's persistent energy challenges, the government has been actively procuring energy storage solutions through two key programmes: the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP) and the Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP). These initiatives have already secured significant battery storage capacity, with 360 MW from Bid Window 1 and 615 MW from Bid Window 2. Bid Window 3, targeting another 616 MW, is currently reviewing applications.

• South Africa's ongoing load-shedding crisis, with 2023 being the worst year on record with over 281 days of power cuts, has prompted the government to accelerate its investment in energy storage. This is particularly crucial as the country increasingly integrates renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, into its grid.

• Our take: Localised battery manufacturing could lower prices, given the high demand that allows for economies of scale… Read more (2 min)

Winock Solar installs over 2 MW of rooftop solar in Nigeria

• Displacing the generators has cumulatively enabled the Nigerian government to save about $1 million in fuel costs and 20,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

• Winock Solar's business model combines solar installations with flexible financing options, such as lease-to-own plans, making solar energy accessible and affordable. In 2024, it secured $1.6 million in equity funding from Acumen Fund Inc. to expand its financing to more micro-businesses.

• Our take: Nigeria’s increasing fuel prices make solar a competitive alternative… Read more (2 min)

Kenya to triple its electrification efforts in 2025

• The budget statement, which is open for public feedback until the end of January, focuses not only on energy generation but also on transmission and distribution, with plans to construct 1,742 km of transmission lines and 21 transmission substations, and 1,050 km of distribution lines and 33 distribution substations.

• The energy infrastructure development will involve both the government, through its Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), and the private sector through public-private partnerships (PPPs).

• Our take: Private sector players can take advantage of the increased PPP deals in energy infrastructure… Read more (2 min)

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