{"id":619,"date":"2025-02-08T07:33:31","date_gmt":"2025-02-08T07:33:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cleantechnica.com\/?p=307925"},"modified":"2025-02-08T07:33:31","modified_gmt":"2025-02-08T07:33:31","slug":"game-on-solar-makes-slow-but-steady-progress-in-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/green\/green-news\/game-on-solar-makes-slow-but-steady-progress-in-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Game On \u2014 Solar Makes Slow But Steady Progress in Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><img src=\"https:\/\/cleantechnica.com\/files\/2023\/10\/GivePower-solar-energy-storage-Kenya.jpeg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\"><\/div>\n<p><em>Sign up for <a href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/cleantechnica\/daily-newsletter\">daily news updates from CleanTechnica<\/a> on email. Or <a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqLQgKIidDQklTRndnTWFoTUtFV05zWldGdWRHVmphRzVwWTJFdVkyOXRLQUFQAQ\">follow us on Google News<\/a>!<\/em> <\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>In a continent bathed in sunshine and rich in natural resources, it is good to see that solar-powered mini grids and desalination are making steady progress. And we need this progress as we head into \u201cthe new abnormal\u201d that was predicted by Michael Mann two decades ago. We echo his encouragement and say it is game on for Africa.<\/p>\n<p>Mann\u2019s recent recap in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2023\/jul\/19\/heatwave-climate-omen-change-course-weather-models\"><em>The Guardian<\/em><\/a> warns us: \u201cWe have failed to prevent dangerous climate change. It is here. What remains to be seen is just how bad we\u2019re willing to let it get. A window of opportunity remains for averting a catastrophic 1.5\u00b0C\/2.7\u00b0F warming of the planet, beyond which we\u2019ll see far worse consequences than anything we\u2019ve seen so far. But that window is closing and we\u2019re not making enough progress.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Africa is slowly changing course with the help of the rest of the world. In each news item below, financing and technology are being supplied by more advanced nations. Here are some positive stories from the resources of <em>Afrik21<\/em>. You can read previous positive stories <a href=\"https:\/\/cleantechnica.com\/2023\/07\/27\/desalination-plants-provide-water-for-africa\/\">here<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/cleantechnica.com\/2023\/07\/11\/not-the-end-of-the-world-africa-moving-towards-decarbonisation\/\">here<\/a>. Yes, you will need your map as you see how it is game on for Africa.<\/p>\n<h3>Solar Water Desalination in Kenya<\/h3>\n<p>Let\u2019s take a look first at some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.afrik21.africa\/en\/kenya-givepower-installs-a-solar-powered-desalination-system-in-mshomoroni\/\">life-changing projects<\/a> in Mombasa, Eastern Kenya. Residents in Mshomoroni, in Mombasa County, are benefitting from a solar-powered, containerised, desalination system provided by <a href=\"https:\/\/givepower.org\/\">GivePower<\/a> of San Francisco. It has already installed 4 systems in Eastern Kenya.<\/p>\n<p>GivePower is building on earlier work in Kenya \u2014 see the video <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AQRezdh9fzk\">here<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AQRezdh9fzk?si=MKEodiqJC5yqJMWO\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\">[embedded content]<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The Likoni solar water farm shown in the video was installed in 2020. Since then, it has desalinated seawater 24 hours a day. The farm consists of a water purification system installed in a 20-foot container, capable of supplying 70 m\u00b3 of water a day. Small businesses supplying and selling water have sprung up around the water farm, health has improved, and local families no longer have to spend twice their rent on imported water from surrounding villages.<\/p>\n<p>The new Mshomoroni facility has a capacity of 75 m\u00b3 per day. \u201cAs well as removing salt, viruses and bacteria, this system will eliminate other contaminants, including fluoride, creating a reliable and affordable source of drinking water for communities in need,\u201d says GivePower. The system is powered by solar and backed up with a battery for cloudy weather and night use.<br \/>GivePower expects the Mshomoroni containerised system will be able to operate for up to 20 years. \u201cEnsuring access to safe, reliable and affordable water remains one of the most important and challenging issues facing humanity today. We are very grateful to Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir, the County Governor of Mombasa, and ServiceNow for their partnership in making this project possible,\u201d said Michele Magee, GivePower\u2019s President.<\/p>\n<h3>Solar Electricity for Burundi<\/h3>\n<p>Burundi, a landlocked country in sub-Saharan central Africa, is one of the worst performers on the continent for electrification. Amped, based in San Mateo, California, plans to spend one million dollars to electrify 3000 rural homes using funding provided by Burundi\u2019s Electrification Financing Initiative (EDFI) ElectriFI. Although the solar home systems to be installed by Amped may be a drop in the bucket, it is a good step forward in the fight to change our course towards catastrophic climate change while helping more people get electricity.<\/p>\n<p>Burundi is bordered on the north by Rwanda, to the east by Tanzania, to the west by Congo, and on the south by Lake Tanganyika. It has been a free kingdom, then a German colony, then a Belgian colony, and then it regained its independence from colonists in 1962. Recent history has been plagued by political instability. It is one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worlddata.info\/africa\/burundi\/index.php\">smallest countries in Africa<\/a> and yet the most densely populated, with a birth rate over 30%. Only 10% of the 13 million residents of Burundi have access to electricity. The rate is even lower in rural areas (1.6%), where the vast majority of the population live.<\/p>\n<p>This East African country \u201chas been neglected by the commercial investment community for many years, mainly due to large deficits and foreign exchange shortages. Yet the electricity needs of the local population are immense. Against this backdrop, we are delighted to have found in Amped a commercial partner willing to bridge this energy gap,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.afrik21.africa\/en\/burundi-electrifi-finances-the-electrification-of-3000-households-using-solar-kits\/\">says Lionel Dieu,<\/a> Senior Investment Officer at EDFI ElectriFI.<\/p>\n<h3>Bifacial Solar Panels for Cameroon<\/h3>\n<p>In Cameroon, on the west coast of Africa, two \u201cRelease\u201d hybrid solar power stations from Norwegian company Scatec have been officially inaugurated. Although described by <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.afrik21.africa\/en\/cameroon-inauguration-of-the-36-mwp-maroua-and-guider-solar-power-plants\/\">Afrik21<\/a><\/em> as \u201clarge scale,\u201d the combined output of the solar farms is only 36 MW, combined with 20 MW of battery storage. The facilities have been in service in the far north Maroua and Guider regions for several months and are now complete.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe two plants are equipped with more than 44,800 bifacial solar panels mounted on trackers, \u2018which will maximise energy production throughout the day. The plants will produce 80 GWh of electricity a year. We\u2019re proud to say that our fight against climate change will be obvious, as the plants will make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions, with an estimated saving of almost 60,000 tonnes a year,\u2019 says Scatec.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/scatec.com\/about\/strategy\/\">Scatec<\/a> describes itself as: \u201ca leading renewable energy solutions provider, accelerating access to reliable and affordable clean energy in high growth markets. As a long-term player, we develop, build, own and operate renewable energy plants, with 4.4 GW in operation and under construction across four continents today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Release by Scatec pre-assembled solar power and battery storage system is a unique solution and the first of its kind to be deployed in Cameroon,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/scatec.com\/2023\/09\/22\/release-by-scatec-inauguration-of-cameroon-solar-hybrid-and-battery-storage-plants\/\">Scatec writes<\/a>. Scatec plans to further strengthen electricity supply in Cameroon by adding more capacity. The northern parts of Cameroon have been subject to power disruptions in the past due to hydrological problems at the Lagdo Dam.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese solar power plants mean that the thermal power plants previously used to boost production in this part of the country will be shut down, generating budget savings for the State,\u201d explains Cameroon\u2019s Minister of Water and Energy. The solar plants were partially financed by the BGFI (Banque Gabonaise et Fran\u00e7aise Internationale) bank based in Libreville, Gabon. Electricity produced is supplied to Cameroon\u2019s public electricity utility, Eneo, which is majority owned by British investment company Actis.<\/p>\n<h3>Solar Rising<\/h3>\n<p>Positive stories like these remind us that we can all do our part to minimize climate change as we work together towards our uncertain future. I will conclude with some more words from Michael Mann from the same <em>Guardian<\/em> article: \u201cWe cannot afford to give in to despair. Better to channel our energy into action, as there\u2019s so much work to be done to prevent this crisis from escalating into a catastrophe. If the extremes of this summer fill you with fears of imminent and inevitable climate collapse, remember, it\u2019s not game over. It\u2019s game on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Featured image courtesy of GivePower<\/em><\/p>\n<div readability=\"13.227699530516\">\n&nbsp; <\/p>\n<hr>\n<p> <em>Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? <a href=\"https:\/\/cleantechnica.com\/contact\/\">Contact us here<\/a>.<\/em> <\/p>\n<hr>\n<h3>EV Obsession Daily!<\/h3>\n<p> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/videoseries?si=1tD3vqaJO1xfO0Cc&amp;list=PLXeQSA7VS3zoNQvUfNxCVNsBrwgxcXsoD\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen>[embedded content]<\/iframe> <\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><em>I don&#8217;t like paywalls. You don&#8217;t like paywalls. Who likes paywalls? Here at CleanTechnica, we implemented a limited paywall for a while, but it always felt wrong \u2014 and it was always tough to decide what we should put behind there. In theory, your most exclusive and best content goes behind a paywall. But then fewer people read it!! So, we&#8217;ve decided to completely nix paywalls here at CleanTechnica. But&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div><em>Like other media companies, we need reader support! If you support us, <a href=\"https:\/\/cleantechnica.fundjournalism.org\/contribute\/\">please chip in a bit monthly<\/a> to help our team write, edit, and publish 15 cleantech stories a day!<\/em><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Thank you!<\/em><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h3>Tesla Sales in 2023, 2024, and 2030<\/h3>\n<hr>\n<p> <center><bold>Advertisement<\/bold><\/center> <center><!-- CT new after-post --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1552008901061842\" data-ad-slot=\"4461458457\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<\/center>&nbsp; <\/p>\n<hr>\n<p> <em><span>CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy <a href=\"https:\/\/cleantechnica.com\/cleantechnica-editorial-ethics\/\">here<\/a>.<\/span><\/em> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News! In a continent bathed in sunshine and rich in natural resources, it is good to see that solar-powered mini grids and desalination are making steady progress. And we need this progress as we head into \u201cthe new abnormal\u201d that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":620,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/green\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/619"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/green\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/green\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/green\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/green\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=619"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/green\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/619\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3228,"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/green\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/619\/revisions\/3228"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/green\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/620"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/green\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/green\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/green\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}