Suzlon signed a supply agreement with African Clean Energy Developments (ACED) for the supply of a total of 76 S88-2 MW wind turbines to be installed at the Cookhouse Wind Energy Facility. The contract allows for an additional 124 MW of wind turbines to be ordered later on.
Sierra Leone is pushing ahead with the development of the second phase of the Bumbuna hydropower project. Phase 1 of the project was completed in 2009 and brought 50 MW of clean electrical power to the country's power grid. The second phase is to extend the amount of installed capacity by 350 MW, increasing the country's total power generation capacity threefold.
BrightSource Energy has been reported to be seeking partners to develop CSP (solar thermal) projects in South Africa. This part of Africa has very good conditions for the deployment of solar thermal power generation technology, due to high irradiation levels.
A consortium of German companies, made up of centrotherm and Kinetics Germany, has signed an agreement with Société Nationale de l'Electricité et du Gaz (Sonelgaz), an Algerian state-owned company, for the construction of of "almost" fully integrated solar module production facility in Algeria, about 30 km east of Algiers. The new factory will cover the entire value chain, starting from ingot production all the way to finished solar cells and solar modules. This will allow low production costs and make the manufactured solar products cost competitive on the market. The agreement represents a contract value of EUR 290 million for the consortium, of which the greater part will go to centrotherm.
Ormat Technologies announced the company has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) for the extension on the Olkaria III geothermal power plant. The extension, basically a new power plant with 36 MW of capacity, will be built adjacent to the existing 48 MW Olkaria III power plant, located near Lake Naivasha.
Geothermal energy as a viable option for adding more power generation capacity in South Africa, is slowly but steadily gaining momentum. Growind energy prices and focus on sustainability issues have prompted the formation of the South African Geothermal Association (SAGA). According to people involved in the creation of SAGA, the organization's objective will be to create a forum-like environment in which participants will share and discuss topics related to geothermal development and implementation, but also take lessons from other geothermal associations which reside in established and developed markets, where this form of energy has been used for decades. Another role of SAGA in the future will be to establish and uphold standards and represent the interests of the geothermal industry in South Africa.
Earth Heat Resources, an Australian geothermal development company, and Drake & Scull Water and Power, part of Drake & Scull International (based in Abu Dhabi, UAE), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly explore, bod for and secure geothermal development opportunities in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa).
EDF and ESKOM (South African electricity utility) have signed a memorandum of understanding for founding an institute in South Africa, which will be dedicated to training South African engineers in thermal energy and renewable energy disciplines. The institute will be called EPPEI (ESKOM Power Plant Engineering Institute). The MoU was signed between representatives of the two companies, during the State Visit of South African's President Jacob Zuma to France.
juwi announced the company has opened offices in Chile and South Africa, marking the company's formal entrance into these growing renewable energy markets. Both countries have significant potential for wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energy.
SDE (Israel) has received approval for the 100 MW sea energy conversion project the company is planning to build on Kenya's coastline. The power plant will produce power at a production cost of about USD 0.02 per 1 kW of power. All generated power will be bought by Kenya Power & Lighting Company.
