Africa renewable energy projects are booming as Egypt adds 2.5 GW Solar and Storage, while major wind, solar and BESS investments advance.
UAE’s GSU Completes 50 MW Solar-Plus-Storage Project in Central African Republic
UAE-based Global South Utilities has completed a 50 MW solar photovoltaic plant combined with a 15 MWh battery energy storage system in Sakai, near Bangui, in the Central African Republic. The facility has increased the country’s electricity-generation capacity by more than 60 percent.
GSU completed the project in approximately 10 months using more than 80,000 solar panels and 156 inverters. Construction recorded 448,880 safe working hours. The plant is expected to provide electricity to more than 300,000 households and avoid over 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Concessional financing from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development supported the project. The battery system will help stabilise electricity supply and manage fluctuations in solar generation. The development is significant for a country where limited generating capacity and grid infrastructure have constrained household electrification and economic activity.
Egypt Advances 407 MW Zafarana Wind Project with Alcazar Energy
Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company has signed a power purchase agreement with UAE-based Alcazar Energy for a 407 MW wind farm at Zafarana. The project will be developed under a build-own-operate model, with commercial operations scheduled to begin in 2028.
The wind farm is expected to generate enough renewable electricity for approximately 775,000 households. It will also repower part of the ageing Zafarana wind complex, where around 700 of approximately 2,000 turbines have reportedly reached the end of their operating lives.
The project is connected to a wider renewable-energy plan valued at approximately $2.5 billion and potentially covering 3.1 GW of wind and solar capacity. By replacing older turbines with larger and more efficient equipment, Egypt can increase generation from an established renewable-energy zone while using existing grid infrastructure.
Scatec Starts Full Operations at $590 Million Obelisk Solar and Battery Project
Scatec has achieved full commercial operations at the second and final phase of Egypt’s Obelisk solar and battery project. The approximately $590 million development combines 1,125 MW of solar photovoltaic capacity with a 100 MW/200 MWh battery energy storage system.
The first phase included 561 MW of solar capacity and the complete battery system, while the second phase added another 564 MW. Obelisk is expected to produce more than 3,000 GWh of renewable electricity annually and avoid over 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
Electricity is being sold to Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company under a 25-year power purchase agreement signed in November 2024. Battery storage will allow part of the daytime solar output to be delivered during evening demand periods, improving system flexibility and reducing the impact of variable generation.
Egypt Approves $750 Million Nefer Minya Solar and Storage Project
Egypt has granted a Golden Licence to the $750 million Nefer Minya renewable-energy project, which will combine a 1 GW solar photovoltaic plant with 600 MWh of battery storage. Infinity Power and Hassan Allam Utilities are developing the project on approximately 20 square kilometres of land in West Minya.
The battery system is designed to provide approximately two hours of energy shifting, allowing solar electricity to be supplied after generation declines. AIKO has been selected as the project’s sole solar-module supplier.
Construction is scheduled for completion by September 30, 2027, and is expected to create 2,500 jobs for engineers, technicians and other workers. The facility could avoid around 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Together, the operational 1.125 GW Obelisk complex and planned 1 GW Nefer Minya project represent more than 2.1 GW of solar capacity and 800 MWh of battery storage.
InnoVent Starts Construction of $12.3 Million Eswatini Solar Project
French renewable-energy developer InnoVent has started construction of a 10 MW solar photovoltaic plant at Nsoko in Eswatini. The project represents an investment of more than E200 million, equivalent to approximately $12.3 million, and forms part of the country’s 75 MW competitive solar independent power producer programme.
Once operational, the Nsoko facility is expected to generate approximately 26 GWh of renewable electricity annually. This output will be equivalent to the electricity requirements of more than 20,000 people and could avoid an estimated 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year.
Construction will create more than 80 jobs, with priority given to local communities, while approximately 10 permanent positions are expected during operations. The project will help Eswatini reduce its dependence on imported electricity, which reached approximately 978.6 GWh during 2024-25.
Ghana’s BPA Targets 300 MWp Solar and Battery Expansion by 2028
Ghana’s Bui Power Authority plans to develop 300 MWp of dispatchable solar photovoltaic capacity integrated with large-scale battery energy storage systems by the end of 2028. The strategy will complement BPA’s hydropower generation and reduce exposure to changes in water availability.
BPA expects to add approximately 100 MWp of solar capacity during 2026, increasing its operational solar portfolio to around 205 MWp. Delivering that target would almost double the authority’s existing solar capacity.
The expansion follows strong operating and financial performance, with BPA reporting a net profit of approximately $66.2 million. However, outstanding payments from its major electricity buyer remain a potential constraint on financing new projects.
Kenya Power Warns Solar and Wind Growth Could Challenge Grid Stability
Kenya Power has called for a measured approach to integrating additional wind and solar generation, warning that rapid growth in variable renewable energy could affect grid stability and increase system-balancing costs.
Solar and wind account for approximately 34 percent of Kenya’s electricity mix during daytime peak demand of around 1,900 MW. Their share rises to about 36 percent when demand declines to approximately 1,200 MW. Variable renewable sources also represent more than 20 percent of the grid’s firm-capacity measurement.
Kenya generates approximately 93 percent of its electricity from renewable sources. KenGen has expanded its generation-development pipeline from around 1,500 MW to 5,500 MW, including proposed geothermal, hydropower and nuclear capacity.
EGENCO Commissions $13.55 Million Salima Solar Project in Malawi
Malawi’s Electricity Generation Company commissioned the first 10 MW phase of its Salima solar power project at Nanjoka on August 10, 2026. The initial phase required an investment of $13.55 million and forms part of a planned 50 MW solar development.
EGENCO has started preparations for the second phase, which will add another 40 MW. The project will diversify a generation system in which hydropower currently provides around two-thirds of electricity.
Malawi has approximately 580 MW of generating capacity, including around 100 MW of solar power. Only about 25 percent of the population has access to electricity, although the government aims to increase access to 70 percent by 2030.
The country has commissioned a separate 20 MW utility-scale battery system in Lilongwe and plans another three storage installations with a combined capacity of 60 MW.
China Harbour Engineering Wins Morocco GPM4 Solar Contract
China Harbour Engineering Company has secured an engineering, procurement and construction contract for the GreenPower Morocco 4 solar photovoltaic project in the Fez-Meknes region. Moroccan renewable-energy platform GPM Holding is developing the facility under the country’s Law 13-09 framework for private renewable generation.
China Harbour’s responsibilities include engineering design, equipment procurement, installation, construction of an operations and maintenance building, grid connection, commissioning and upgrades to the associated electricity substation. The project’s generating capacity, investment and contract value have not been publicly disclosed.
GPM Holding has previously partnered with AMEA Power on the 34 MW GreenPower Morocco 1 solar project in Tangier. That facility was designed to generate approximately 66,149 MWh annually, supply electricity equivalent to the needs of more than 19,200 households and avoid 39,888 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
Morocco reportedly approved almost 3 GW of new energy projects valued at approximately MAD22 billion during the first quarter of 2026.
Sudan Explores 500 MW of Hybrid Solar and Thermal Generation
Sudan is discussing two hybrid thermal and solar power projects with China’s Hunan Construction as it seeks international support to rebuild electricity infrastructure damaged by conflict.
The potential developments include the 200 MW Jomi’iya power project and the 300 MW Garri 3 facility, representing a combined planned capacity of 500 MW. The projects would integrate conventional thermal generation with solar power to provide more dependable electricity than standalone variable renewable generation.
AMEA Power Energises $19 Million Ituka Solar Plant in Uganda
AMEA Power has energised the substation serving its 24 MWp Ituka solar photovoltaic project in Uganda’s West Nile region. The $19 million facility is being developed by Ituka West Nile Uganda Limited on a 52-hectare site at Ombachi village in Madi Okollo District, approximately 450 kilometres from Kampala.
The plant is expected to generate approximately 53,940 MWh of renewable electricity annually, supply power equivalent to the needs of more than 192,640 households and avoid around 26,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
Ituka connects to the national grid through a 24 MVA, 33/132 kV transformer substation and the Lira-Gulu-Nebbi-Arua 132 kV transmission network. Project financing was secured from the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund, while the African Trade and Investment Development Insurance agency is providing liquidity-risk support.
The project will become the first large utility-scale, grid-connected solar installation in Uganda’s West Nile region.
Zambia Starts Construction of $84.2 Million Kasama Solar Project
Zambia has started construction of the $84.2 million Kasama solar photovoltaic project at Sombe village in Northern Province. The 100 MW facility is being financed through equity from state-owned power company ZESCO and is expected to be completed within approximately 12 months.
The project will diversify Zambia’s electricity mix and reduce its vulnerability to drought-related hydropower shortages. Zambia depends on hydropower for most of its generating capacity, but declining reservoir levels have forced ZESCO to introduce electricity rationing and increase imports.
Kasama follows the commissioning of the 100 MW Chisamba solar project in June 2025. Zambia also completed procurement in May 2026 for 156 smaller solar plants with combined capacity of 312 MW.
The government is targeting the addition of approximately 10 GW of electricity-generation capacity over five years. Achieving this target would require major investment in solar, hydropower, thermal generation, storage and transmission infrastructure.
SHAFANA FAZAL
