When a new kind of baseload power hits Congo

April 06, 2025

One of Africa's largest copper mines, Kamoa Copper, located in the DR Congo, has secured a deal to obtain baseload power from renewable sources, a first for the continent. The power will be supplied by CrossBoundary Energy from a 222 MW solar PV system and a 526 MWh battery energy storage system. Construction starts in Q2 of 2025.

  • Mining companies have been moving away from fossil fuel-reliant grids to generate their own clean electricity. This has been due to rising grid costs and the growing pressure for sustainable mining and production.

  • Many mines have incorporated solar and battery storage, but have been cautious about using them for baseload power (the minimum continuous electricity required) due to the intermittent nature of solar energy. However, the increased efficiency of solar panels and the decline in battery costs have now made it a viable and cheaper alternative to diesel generators for providing continuous power.

  • Our take: As the first such agreement in Africa, this deal is likely to establish a clear model for other new companies to replicate… Read more (2 min)

Construction of Africa's first hybrid renewable energy project, combining wind, solar, and battery storage, is expected to commence this year in Meru County, Kenya. This follows the issuance of title deeds to landowners, paving the way for the investor to now lease the land. The project was expected to start in 2021.

  • Kenya leads Africa in renewable energy grids. With 940 MW of installed geothermal capacity, it ranks among the top seven globally, though this is four times less than the leading country, the US. Overall, 90% of its grid power comes from renewable sources.

  • The country has several rivers suitable for hydropower generation, and wind speeds average 7 m/s in most areas. Being situated at the equator, the country enjoys plenty of sunshine, averaging 6.5 hours per day. All these have provided it with a strong footing in renewables.

  • Our take: Kenyan government policy needs clarity and consistency to build investor confidence in the renewable energy sector… Read more (2 min)

Distributed Power Africa (DPA), a pan-African renewable energy company, hired only seven staff in the last year. Despite this, the company's employee numbers declined by 12% as it lost more staff than it hired. The company experienced the largest staff losses in South Africa and Zimbabwe, which are its core markets.

  • The company has 61 employees and an attrition rate of 23%.  Most of these employees are moving to their competitors. Three joined Grid Africa, a solar solutions provider, and one moved to its branch in South Africa.

  • Only in the technical and sales department did the company have new hires, with the solar technicians now accounting for 7% of the employees. 

  • Our take: Is Distributed Power Africa prioritising technical execution over business development?... Read more (2 min)

Solar engineers install a solar water heater system in Kiambu County, Kenya

Events

🗓️Register for a webinar on Smart Grids & African Energy Savings (Apr 15)

🗓️ Participate in the Mauritius Clean Energy Week 2025 Event (May 13)

🗓️ Attend Enlit Africa energy event (May 20)

Jobs

👨‍🔧 Become Rubicon’s Senior Quality Assurance Technician (South Africa)

💵 Join Baker Hughes as a Lead Billing Specialist - GaffneyCline Energy (Egypt)

👨🏻‍💻 Spearhead project advisory operations at SNV (Ethiopia)

Various 

⚡ LPV Technologies needs solar dealers and distributors in Nigeria 

🔋 World Bank launches Burkina Faso's first solar and BESS tender

💡 Rwanda's Ignite project will empower 1,000 schools with solar power

Seen on LinkedIn 

Hanan Al-Abdali, Renewable Energy Engineer at Nama Electricity Distribution Company, says, “The question is no longer, should we shift to renewables? It’s how fast can we afford to make the switch?”