January 29, 2025

TotalEnergies Uganda eyes more solar power generation

January 28, 2025

A major fossil fuel company TotalEnergies, has submitted applications to Uganda's Electricity Regulatory Authority to develop 40 MW of solar power capacity. In 2022, it signed an agreement with the government to build 120 MW of solar power. It aims to achieve 1 GW of renewable energy in Uganda by 2030.

  • TotalEnergies has been diversifying its energy portfolio to include renewable energy. It plans to achieve 400 GW of gross renewable capacity across the world. It started by first installing solar panels at its fuel stations and is now venturing into large-scale energy projects.  

  • The focus of these projects is hydropower and solar, and the company has interests in several hydropower projects with a gross capacity of 3.7 GW worldwide.

  • Our take: TotalEnergies can leverage its existing infrastructure, supply chains, and financial resources to gain a competitive advantage in the renewable energy market… Read more (2 min)

A German-based renewable energy project developer, JUWI, has started construction of a combined 340 MW solar project in South Africa. The project includes 120 MW for Teraco Data Centres, 100 MW for Glencore Mine, and 120 MW for Sasol. Once completed, they will contribute around 5% to South Africa’s total solar PV capacity.

  • The three projects will cumulatively cost more than $324 million, and the power will be wheeled through Eskom's (South Africa's national utility company) grid to the respective customers.

  • JUWI has built over 20 solar PV and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) projects globally. In Africa, two notable JUWI examples are the Sukari Gold Mine in Egypt and the Grande Côte mineral sands operation (GCO) in Senegal. 

  • Our take: The energy space, having attracted both local and big international players is set to see intensified competition… Read more (2 min)

Kenya is building a 300 MW geothermal power plant to settle a $61 million debt it owes Germany in its first debt-for-climate swap deal. The project, currently under construction, is set to be completed by mid-2025. Once completed, it will bring the total geothermal capacity to 1240 MW, a third of the total installed capacity in Kenya.

  • In a debt-for-nature swap, a country’s debt is forgiven in exchange for commitments to invest in environmental conservation or sustainable development projects. Other countries that have pioneered its implementation in Africa include Seychelles, Gabon & Congo.

  • In the second half of 2024, Kenya allocated approximately 61% of its revenue to debt repayment, leaving limited resources for development projects and other essential expenditures.

  • Our take: If developed and developing countries can find common ground, debt-for-climate swaps have the potential to revolutionise Africa's energy landscape…Read more (2 min)

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A team of Uganda Electricity Regulation Authority and partners from Lesotho, Namibia & Eswatini paid a visit to learn about distributed generation

Events

📅 South Africa hosts Africa Green Economy Summit (Feb 19 - 21)

📅 Botswana hosts Botswana Mining & Energy Conference and Expo (Apr 7 - 8)

📅 South Africa hosts Converge Africa 2025 (May 6 - 8)

Jobs

💼 AltGen  seeks a Renewable Energy Engineering Bid (South Africa)

💼 GSMA seeks a Senior Energy Specialist (Sub-Saharan Africa)

💼 EDF Renewables seeksa Renewable Energy Engineering Graduate (South Africa)

Various 

📌 Lower Maguduza hydropower project reaches financial close 

📌 Egypt reissues tender for 2,100 MW pumped storage hydro plant

📌 East Africa Power Market to launch a day-ahead market

Seen on LinkedIn 

James Ngomeli, Chief Energizing Officer at Brands and Beyond Ltd, says, “Africa’s entrepreneurs are trapped in grantrepreneurship, where innovations never reach the market without donor funding.”

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