India’s Largest Solar Tender Of 3 Gigawatts Launched

14.03.2018

Late last month, the Solar Energy Corporation of India launched a Request for Proposal (RfP) document for what will be the single largest solar power auction in the country’s history.

This tender for 3 gigawatts of capacity will overtake a 2 gigawatt tender launched by the state of Telangana in 2015 to become India’s largest solar power tender ever. The tender is also one of the most unique in the solar power sector, although SECI has used this model for wind energy auctions thrice already. SECI had launched a similar tender in January 2018 for 2 gigawatts of solar capacity, and bidding and results for this tender are awaited.

The capacity has been offered in multiples of 250 megawatts. Project developers will be free to choose the location of the projects. The maximum allowed bid for this tender is Rs 2.93/kWh (¢4.5/kWh), a 21% premium to the lowest-ever tariff bid by a developer in India. However, this threshold is reasonable given the recent increase in price of imported modules, imposition of several duties, and uncertainty over imposition of several other duties.

Project developers will sign power purchase agreements for a period of 25 years with SECI, which, in turn, will sign power supply agreements with power distribution companies across the country. SECI will earn a margin from these transactions. A company and its subsidiaries or affiliates can bid for a cumulative capacity of 750 megawatts.

In addition to the normal conditions found in other solar power tenders launched by SECI and state governments, there other beneficial provisions for project developers. These include the option to sell excess electricity at pre-defined tariff rates and compensation in case of generation loss due to transmission congestion.

There will also be a payment guarantee fund to protect the developers from any payment delays by power distribution companies.

The Indian government will float several similar tenders in the near future. A further 30 gigawatts each will be auctioned in FY2018-19 and FY2019-20. Thus a total of 77 gigawatts will be put on the block by 31 March 2020. Developers will thus have ample time to deliver all projects by the March 2022 deadline.

Source: cleantechnica.com

India Relaxes Terms For Federal Wind Energy Auctions

13.03.2018

The Solar Energy Corporation of India has modified some requirements for the fourth federal-level wind energy auction. The modifications are likely to be welcomed by project developers, as participation has been made easier and penalties have been reduced slightly.

First, SECI has made amendments to the original Request for Selection (RfS) document so that project developers willing to participate in the auction can submit various kinds of fees through electronic means, in addition to submitting physical instruments. This would be highly beneficial to companies that are not located in close proximity to the SECI office in the National Capital Region of Delhi as well as foreign companies planning to participate in the auction.

Next, SECI has also diluted some requirements for foreign companies with regards to submission of audited financial documents. This will be a major breather for foreign companies looking to participate in the auction and also attract more international companies to India’s wind energy market. This is also important as India plans to open the offshore market soon where Indian companies have no experience and would likely partner with international firms.

There is also good news for successful developers in case they miss the scheduled date to commission projects. As per the original RfS document, developers would have faced a reduction in tariff by Rs 0.50/kWh (0.77¢/kWh) for each day of delay of over six months in project commissioning. This has now been reduced by 70% to Rs 0.15/kWh (0.23¢/kWh).

Several other provisions that project developers would find beneficial have been modified slightly. These include provisions to sell excess electricity generated by the projects to third-party buyers. A similar provision was included in the Rewa solar power park tender which is regarded as a milestone in India’s solar power market.

If the project is part-commissioned before the scheduled commissioning date, the developer can sell the power at 75% of the tariff discovered in auction to the designated power distribution company. This means that the developer would not be left high-and-dry to work out options to sell this electricity.

SECI plans to auction several gigawatts of capacity over the next few months on a regular basis in order to push the installed capacity to 60 gigawatts by March 2022. The third federal-level auction held last month saw tariffs stabilize at Rs 2.44/kWh (3.8¢/kWh), which remains the lowest wind energy tariff bid in India.

Source: cleantechnica.com

Green Powerhouse: E.ON Agrees to Acquire Innogy from RWE in €43bn Deal

13.03.2018

Obnovljivi izvori energije — Foto: Pixabay

E.ON yesterday confirmed it has reached an agreement in principle to acquire rival RWE’s stake in renewables specialist Innogy in a deal worth an estimated €43bn that is set to reshape the European energy market.

The German energy giants confirmed an agreement has been reached, subject to board approval, after reports over the weekend revealed a complex cash, shares, and assets deal was under negotiation.

Share in Innogy, RWE, and E.ON all surged this morning as the markets responded positively to the news.

Under the agreement in principle, E.ON would acquire RWE’s 76.8 per cent stake in Innogy, but at the same time most of E.ON and Innogy’s renewables business, minority stakes in two nuclear power plants, and Innogy’s gas storage business, as well as some other assets, would be transferred back to RWE.

The deal would result in RWE holding a 16.67 per cent stake in E.ON. It would leave E.ON operating primarily as an energy networks and retail specialist, with RWE significantly strengthening its position in the renewables and clean energy generation markets.

“After successful implementation of the transaction it is intended to fully integrate innogy into the E.ON Group,” E.ON said in a statement. “Through this transaction E.ON would become a focused customer-oriented energy company concentrating on energy networks and customer solutions. The renewables businesses of E.ON and RWE would be brought together under the umbrella of RWE.”

The move is the latest shake out in the German energy market to result from the country’s ambitious shift towards renewables, known as the energiewende. In recent years both RWE and E.ON have sought to split their operations into forward-facing business units focused on renewables and smart grids and legacy operations holding the bulk of their fossil fuel assets.

Recent financial results have suggested the re-organisation is starting to pay off for both companies, with E.ON agreeing in January to sell a minority stake in its fossil fuel business Uniper to Finland’s Fortum for €3.8bn in January.

The deal, which will be subject to regulatory approval, comes amidst a challenging time for Innogy. Chief executive Peter Terium resigned late last year in the wake of a profit warning leaving Uwe Tigges as interim CEO. Meanwhile, in a shocking development chief financial officer Bernhard Günther was reportedly subject of an acid attack by unknown assailants that has left him severely injured and currently receiving treatment in hospital.

Source: businessgreen.com

UK and Saudi Arabia Ink Clean Energy Partnership, as France Backs Global Solar Push

13.03.2018

renewable-energy — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

The controversial UK visit of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman culminated in a new clean energy agreement between the two countries, as the UK sought to underline the role it can play in supporting the Gulf State’s renewables plans.

As part of the visit, UK Business Secretary Greg Clark signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Clean Energy with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Khalid A. Al-Falih.

The pact includes commitments to share technical knowledge and host an annual UK-Saudi Energy and Industry Dialogue in a bid to accelerate the roll out of renewables and boost investment between the two countries.

The agreement covers a wide range of clean energy technologies, including smart grids, electric vehicles, and Carbon Capture Usage and Storage, as well as renewables.

“Our Industrial Strategy sets out a long-term plan to build a Britain fit for the future,” said Clark. “The global shift to clean growth is one of the most foreseeable and significant global economic trends and will transform many sectors of the economy, including power, transport, construction, energy-intensive industries and agriculture. This Memorandum of Understanding will help both the UK and Saudi Arabia make the most of this shift.”

Al Falih said the agreement would help support the country’s Vision 2030 clean energy plans, which aims to diversify the state’s energy mix away from a heavy reliance on oil and gas.

The agreement comes ahead of the release next month of a UK government report on the clean tech export opportunity offered by Saudi Arabia.

The report is expected to show Saudi Arabia’s expanding clean energy sector represents a multi-million pound opportunity for the UK, with a particularly focus on the engineering, construction, and smart grid sectors.

In related new, the French government today confirmed it will commit €700m to the India-backed International Solar Alliance (ISA), which aims to accelerate the roll out of solar technologies in developing economies.

Speaking at the ISA’s first conference in New Delhi, French President Emmanuel Macron said France would more than triple its funding for the alliance, taking its total contribution to €1bn.

The ISA has set a target of mobilising $1tr of solar investment and currently counts 60 countries as signatories.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hoping the organisation’s first conference will see more countries sign up in support of its goal of catalysing increased solar investment in over 120 nations around the world.

Source: businessgreen.com

Nitrogen Oxides Kill 6,000 People A Year In Germany, Federal Environmental Agency Reports

13.03.2018

Nitrogen oxides (NOx), a form of pollution closely associated with diesel fuel combustion in diesel cars and trucks, cause the early death of around 6,000 people a year in Germany, the country’s Federal Environmental Agency has revealed.

The new figures from Germany’s Federal Environmental Agency represent one estimate among many, with some earlier estimates putting the figure much higher. And, once other forms of pollution are accounted for as well (particulate matter air pollution, for instance) the number of people killed in Germany every year by diesel cars would of course climb much higher.

I’ll note here that I’m aware that some people dispute the claim that diesel cars emit high levels of dangerous particulate matters, by stating that such vehicles don’t have to emit high levels of particulate matter (if outfitted with expensive filters, etc.).

While there’s a bit of truth to that claim, it’s also true that in practice most diesel cars in Germany, and in Europe as a whole, do release large amounts of particulate matter air pollution (this is especially true of the smallest and most dangerous particles, which can be absorbed directly through lung tissue and enter the bloodstream). Research has also found that total life-cycle carbon emissions are actually higher for diesel cars than for gas/petrol cars, despite claims to the contrary by proponents.

Reuters provides more: “The figure is likely to add pressure on carmakers and the government as they scramble to slow the demise of the diesel technology in which Germany’s car industry invested billions.”

“The Environmental Agency (UBA) also said that NOx causes one million people to fall ill each year and that levels of the toxic particle are higher in 70 cities than the limit set under air quality standards.”

“The car industry has relied on diesel as a stopgap technology to boost efficiency, meet CO2 emissions goals and buy time for a shift toward electric mobility. But sales of diesel cars have been falling since Volkswagen admitted in 2015 to cheating on emissions tests. Subsequent studies have exposed the true levels of NOx, which is emitted more abundantly by diesel vehicles than petrol engines.”

In related news, a court in Germany recently ruled that cities have the right to ban diesel cars if they so choose. This ruling was followed by various inane and ridiculous comments from prominent figures in the government and auto industry to the effect that such bans weren’t likely to occur.

Source: cleantechnica.com

This Indian City Is 100% Solar-Powered

13.03.2018

solar-cells-2590968__340 — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

While technically not a city, Diu has become the first union territory in India to be fully powered by solar power.

Daman & Diu are geographically separated, but administratively form a single union territory. It is governed directly by India’s federal government and does not have a state government like other states and a few other union territories in India have. Diu is located at the southern-most point of Indian state of Gujarat.

According to media reports, Diu has become the first union territory in India to be fully powered by solar power. The power department of Diu has set up a total solar power capacity of 13 megawatts — 10 megawatts in ground-based systems and 3 megawatts in rooftop systems.

Diu has a land area of just 42 square kilometers. In comparison, Manhattan island has an area of 59 square kilometers. However, Diu’s peak power demand is just 7 megawatts, which is negligible compared to the energy-hungry Manhattan. Before the solar power systems were installed, Diu would procure all of its power from neighboring Gujarat.

The solar power installed capacity is nearly twice the peak power demand in Diu. According to a an executive engineer of the power department, the total daily solar power generation is around 10.5 megawatts, nearly 50% more than the peak power demand.

While the media reports do not mention how the territory is powered during night and cloudy days, mechanisms exist within Indian power regulations to address this issue. Diu may export any surplus solar power generated during the day to Gujarat and acquire what it needs during the night or period of shortfall in solar power generation. This barter is allowed and commonly practiced in the Indian power system. A similar approach is believed to have been implemented at the Kochi International Airport, the world’s first fully solar-powered airport.

Source: cleantechnica.com

Arctic Has Warmest Winter On Record

12.03.2018

The Arctic winter comes and goes — but ever so differently as warming trends prevail. Increasing temperatures and glacial caving continue as Mother Nature gets hotter — at the top of our world as elsewhere.

James Balog has an immense range of visuals on this subject. Once long ago a skeptic himself, he transformed and has been documenting the loss of our glaciers (see ICE: Portraits of Vanishing Glaciers). Balog has been patiently filming the cavings for years.

A recent update from The Guardian notes that the increasing temperature from recent weather data is worrying the scientists who firmly watch the effects of climate change and know what they could mean for human wellbeing. The report passes along the message that the Arctic region just experienced its warmest winter on record.

“Sea ice hit record lows for the time of year, new US weather data revealed on Tuesday.” The situation reminds me of the old adage about Mother Nature. Mother Nature can’t be fooled, but some of us are foolish about our small planet’s challenges.

“It’s just crazy, crazy stuff,” said Mark Serreze, director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado, who has been studying the Arctic since 1982. “These heat waves – I’ve never seen anything like this.”

It is unquestionable that the truth is so frightening that some avoid the credible information altogether. Still, day by day, we who read CleanTechnica keep our eyes out for new information and act to turn the trend in a more positive direction. An earlier post (linked above) describes that, in the next 10 or so years, “13 large global cities are facing temperature rises that could exceed 2° degrees Celsius (3.6° Fahrenheit), according to a new report from the Urban Climate Change Research Network at Columbia University.”

The Guardian continues: “Experts say what’s happening is unprecedented, part of a global warming-driven cycle that probably played a role in the recent strong, icy storms in Europe and the north-eastern US.

“The land weather station closest to the North Pole, at the tip of Greenland, spent more than 60 hours above freezing in February. Before this year, scientists had seen the temperature there rise above freezing in February only twice before, and then extremely briefly. Last month’s record-high temperatures have been more like those typical of May, said Ruth Mottram, a climate scientist at the Danish Meteorological Institute.

“Of nearly three dozen different Arctic weather stations, 15 of them were at least 10F (5.6C) above normal for the winter. ‘The extended warmth really has staggered all of us,’ Mottram said.”

Source: cleantechnica.com

As The Glaciers Of The Swiss Alps Melt, Hydroelectric Firms Look Toward Wind Power

12.03.2018

Over the coming decades, some of the rivers in Europe that utilize hydroelectric facilities to generate electricity are expected to see greatly reduced water flows due to the rapid disappearance of glaciers in the Swiss Alps.

As a result, some regions that are currently partly reliant upon hydroelectric capacity will have to partially transition to other sources of power. With that apparently in mind, execs at the France-based Compagnie Nationale du Rhone (CNR) hydropower group have begun making plans to greatly increase investment into renewable energy projects, reportedly.

This news follows on a drought last year that saw relevant water flows (at hydro facilities) reduced by 27%, accompanied by a drop to “just” 10.7 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity generation. That figure represents quite a drop from the record figure of 17.4 TWh worth of generation in 2013.

Expectations are that the river Rhone,which flows from Lake Geneva (which is fed by glacier melt) to the Mediterranean, will see its flow greatly diminished over the coming decades as the Alpine glaciers of the region continue disappearing.

Some predictions state that the flow of the Rhone will be diminished by 10%-40% in just faew decades, and perhaps more importantly, the flow that still exists will come increasingly in the form of violent floods.

“Scientists say the Alps’ glaciers could disappear by the end of the century. That does not mean they will, but we must act responsibly,” explained CNR CEO Elisabeth Ayrault, in an interview with Reuters.

As a result, the company will reportedly be increasing its investment into the renewable energy sector, and looking to boost renewables capacity by 5-fold in the near-term, reportedly.

“Our plan is to have as much capacity away from the river as on the river, probably by 2035,” the CNR CEO continued.

Reuters provides more: “CNR has 3,035 megawatt (MW) of hydropower capacity — making it France’s second-biggest hydropower producer after EDF — and has already built some 600 MW of mainly wind and some solar power since 2015.”

“By 2020, it wants to boost that to 1,000 MW and then accelerate renewables investment with a further 1,500 MW in 2020-2025 to eventually reach 3,000 MW of renewables capacity. Ayrault said the problem was not just slower flow rates but also increasing volatility. Last year’s drought was followed by 3 major floods in December-January. Floods also weigh on output, as CNR is forced to open dams to evacuate excess water.”

“What is worrying is the huge swings in river flow. We no longer have the regularity we had before,” she noted.

Climate weirding is occurring, in other words. Humans have gotten used to the relative climatological stability of the last few thousand years, but such stability can’t be counted on to continue. From here on out, owing to an increase in turbulence in the broader climate system (the result of the rapid release of greenhouse gases in recent times), the weather of the world will become less and less predictable.

The CNR CEO noted that the increasingly extreme river flow swings were also affecting nuclear energy facilities further downstream. I wonder what will happen with those nuclear energy power plants over the long-term?

Source: cleantechnica.com

Mojave Desert Protections and Renewable Energy Under Attack

12.03.2018

After opening up most of our country’s shorelines to offshore drilling, the Trump administration is now reconsidering an ambitious and innovative plan to conserve desert lands while generating renewable energy.

The administration intends to reopen the Desert Renewable Energy and Conservation Plan (DRECP) for the Mojave Desert finalized in September 2016. The plan was based on more than 8 years of stakeholder input—more than 16,000 comments were submitted—hard science and balancing the need for conservation and clean energy.

The DRECP strikes the right balance—it protects lands important for, wildlife and habitat connectivity, lands rich in cultural resources and lands treasured by local communities for recreation. It also identifies almost 400,000 acres of appropriate lands for renewable energy zones—more than enough to meet the state of California’s ambitious renewable energy goals.

Despite Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke’s recent comments, there is absolutely no reason to re-open it. Zinke couldn’t have been more wrong when he said, “Five hundred miles of solar cells is not compatible with the habitat.” The whole point of the DRECP was to make sure that renewable energy development and conservation take place in the right areas so that both can co-exist in the desert.

In reality, the DRECP would allow development of solar projects on a small fraction of the 10 million acres of federal land included in the plan. There certainly is no proposal for a single, contiguous solar facility covering 500 square miles that Zinke’s misstatement warns of. His blatant error reflects this administration’s outright hostility to clean energy and allegiance to fossil fuels at any costs.

Instead of scare tactics, the focus now should be on robust implementation of the plan, not re-opening it at tax payers’ expense. Re-opening the DRECP jeopardizes more than four million acres of important conservation lands. It could also threaten many of the desert’s most threatened and endangered species such as majestic bighorn sheep and ancient desert tortoise.

Opening the DRECP will also create uncertainty for local counties, industry, wildlife agencies, outdoor recreationists and rural communities. NRDC will fight efforts to undo the work of 8 years of stakeholder input and planning, which will waste a great deal of time and money invested by both the federal and state governments and is certain to result in a less balanced plan.

Source: ecowatch.com

Not in da Club: Deltic Group Declares ‘No Straw Attached’

12.03.2018

The notice displayed in night clubs informing you of which substances are banned is going to need to be updated to include another item of contraband: the plastic straw.

The Deltic Group, the UK’s largest operator of ‘premium late night bars and clubs’ announced late last week that it has removed plastic straws from its 57 venues across the UK with immediate effect.

Under the so-called #nostrawattached campaign, the company said that drinks will no longer be served with a straw as standard.

If customers request a straw they will receive one made from PLA, a plant-based plastic that biodegrades in six months and contains 67 per cent less embodied carbon than oil-based PP plastic.

The company added that the new straws will be disposed of in dedicated food waste bins for recycling.

“We are pleased to announce that we will no longer be buying, using or serving plastic straws to any of our customers at any of our venues,” said Peter Marks, chief executive of The Deltic Group, in a statement. “These changes form part of a broader commitment to run a more environmentally friendly and sustainable operation.”

The commitment is the latest in a string of announcements from across the hospitality sector as leading brands seek to crack down on plastic waste.

In recent months, brands such as Wetherspoons, Pernod Ricard, and Malmaison have all pledged to end the use of plastic straws on their premises.

Source: businessgreen.com

Finnish Savo-Solar Inks EUR 2 Million Deal with France

11.03.2018

Finnish solar thermal systems provider Savo-Solar has signed a final delivery contract with newHeat SAS in France.

The contract is for France’s largest solar thermal system. It will be installed in Condat-sur-Vézère and have a collector area of over 4 000m2.

Valued at over two million euros, the order includes the civil works, the collector field installed on a tracking system, piping, solar station including the heat exchanger, the control system and the heat delivery to the industrial process.

Savo-Solar has also been awarded the operation and maintenance contract and will be responsible for the operation of the system.

newHeat SAS will use the plant, the first flat-plate collector field in the world to be installed on a one-axis tracking system, to supply and sell heat to an industrial site.

The contract will take effect and project delivery will start after newHeat has received the final approvals and agreements, by the end of April.

The Sun has been shining on the Finnish company of late, with deals previously announced in Denmark and Latin America.

Source: Good News Finland

Temperature Rise over 2° Celsius (3.6° Fahrenheit) Possible in 13 Global Cities in 2020s, Study Finds

09.03.2018

climate - change — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Over just the next decade or so, 13 large global cities are facing temperature rises that could exceed 2° degrees Celsius (3.6° Fahrenheit), according to a new report from the Urban Climate Change Research Network at Columbia University.

Some of the largest cities facing possibly extreme temperature rise by as soon as the mid- to late-2020s include Geneva (Switzerland), Shenzhen (China), Leuven (Belgium), and Tsukuba (Japan), among others.

According to the new report, those cities are facing temperature rises of up to and between 2.5° Celsius and 2.3° Celsius. The lower bounds of these estimates are still generally above 1° Celsius, though, so higher temperatures are now a given, and it’s just a question of how extreme they are.

“It’s all alarming,” stated study author William Solecki, in an interview with the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Well, that would be putting it lightly. The higher temperature rise possibilities discussed above would greatly hamper economic activity in the cities in question, and by as soon as a decade or so from now.

Reuters provides more: “The new data provides ‘foundation knowledge’ for cities at the forefront of efforts to rein in the effects of global warming, said Cynthia Rosenzweig, an editor of the report and a researcher with NASA.”

“The findings’ variance — projected increases do not exceed 1° C in a handful of cases — offer a reminder that cities need to develop tailored plans to mitigate the effects of climate change, said Solecki, a professor at Hunter College in New York. Planning is particularly crucial given growing pressures from urbanization, he said.”

This report follows not too long after a study was released recently calling into question the idea that it still remains possible to limit anthropogenic climate warming to under 1.5° Celsius.

While there other recent studies arguing that it is still possible to meet the 1.5° Celsius (or even 2° Celsius) goal if action was taken, the reality is that these studies rely on models which don’t take into account important feedback loops, and which have greatly underestimated the speed at which changes have occurred to date.

The greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere to date are very likely enough to cause over 2° Celsius temperature rise by 2100 as is, simply due to now activated positive feedback loops and continuing deforestation and soil erosion.

The only way that temperature rise could be limited to under 2° Celsius by 2100 at this point is through the large-scale (and highly expensive) deployment of the currently non-existant atmospheric carbon removal tech. And that’s the case even if a rapid phaseout of fossil fuel use, and a fundamental restructuring of the agricultural, international trade, and transport sectors was to occur.

Source: cleantechnica.com

African Development Bank Secures $52.5 Million For 100 Megawatts Of Zambia Renewable Energy

09.03.2018

obnovljiva-energija — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

The African Development Bank has this week secured $52.5 million in funding from the Green Climate Fund for Zambia’s Renewable Energy Financing Framework which will seek to finance 100 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy.

The funding was approved at the 19th Board Meeting of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) held in Songo, South Korea this week. The GCF is a fund that was adopted by 194 governments as a financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at the end of 2011, with a goal to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries and help adapt vulnerable societies to the already-felt impacts of climate change.

The new funding will aim to finance 100 MW of renewable energy projects under the Renewable Energy Feed-in-Tariff (REFiT) policy of Zambia, which was launched in 2017 in an effort to crowd-in private investments for small-scale renewable projects up to 20 MW in size. The funding, comprised of $50 million provided by the GCF as a loan and $2.5 million as a grant, will go to support primarily solar projects focused on diversifying Zambia’s energy production, which is currently heavily reliant on hydroelectricity.

This reliance on hydroelectricity is not inherently a problem, but when you add in the fact that the region is encountering recent droughts, it results in serious electricity supply deficits.

“This is a significant first fruit of our joint commitment for development and growth in Africa that aligns with the Paris Agreement” said Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank. “We look forward to partnering further with the Green Climate Fund to help increase Africa’s share of climate finance.”

“This innovative project represents an important and fitting milestone in our partnership with GCF,” added Amadou Hott, Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth at the African Development Bank. “Not only do the projects pave the way for providing clean, sustainable energy to around 300,000 people, through diversifying Zambia’s energy mix. It will also make the country more resilient to the effects of climate change.”

Zambia has recently made headway in bolstering its renewable energy future. In early December Zambia’s government launched the first round of its GET FIT Zambia program — the official implementation program of its REFiT policy. A 100 MW tender for solar PV projects up to 20 MW is set to launch early this year, with the hopes of using the policy to secure 200 MW of small- and medium-scale renewable projects.

Additionally, Zambia secured an International Development Association (IDA) $2.8 million guarantee from the World Bank Group to support the country’s desire to increase its solar PV electricity capacity. Specifically, the $2.8 million guarantee will leverage around $48 million in private sector-led investment to support the development of a 34 MW solar PV project being developed by Ngonye Power Company Limited.

“The Ngonye project will increase and diversify Zambia’s renewable energy generation capacity and support government’s objective of diversifying the electricity generation mix to shield the country from climate-induced shocks,” said Ina Ruthenberg, World Bank Country Manager for Zambia in December.

Source: cleantechnica.com

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