Syrah Resources Limited to operate Mozambique mine with solar and storage; Adenia secures majority share in Enfin in South Africa; CEI Africa tips $3 million into Nuru’s kitty in DRC; WATT Renewable raises $13 million from Empower New Energy for Nigeria business.
Hybrid power plant for Australian miner: Syrah Resources Limited, the Australian graphite mining company has announced the commissioning of an 11.25 MW solar PV and an 8.5 MW/MWh battery energy storage system in Mozambique. The hybrid plant will power its Balama Graphite Operations, covering 35% of its annual power requirement, thus helping it reduce diesel consumption by 35%. Syrah believes it will also lower its product carbon equivalent emissions by around 13%. EPC services on a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) basis were provided by Solarcentury Africa Limited. Syrah has signed a 10-year operating lease and operations and maintenance (O&M) contract with a special purpose company of the project financier CrossBoundary Energy for the Balama project. At the end of the 10-year term, Syrah will acquire ownership.
Adenia’s rooftop solar bet: Private investment firm Adenia Partners has completed a majority investment in Enfin as the maiden investment from its 5th flagship fund Adenia V. Enfin is a solar financing solutions company catering the commercial and industrial (C&I) customers in South Africa including smart businesses, farms, sectional titles and schools. The rooftop solutions firm aims to build over 100 MW of solar assets over the next 5 years. Adenia expects its Adenia V to exceed its $400 million target fundraise as businesses in Africa adopt mitigation and adaptation strategies for climate change.
Nuru will use CEI Africa financing to expand its mini grid services in Goma, DRC. (Photo Credit: CEI Africa)
Nuru gets CEI grant: Mini grid developer in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Nuru has bagged over $3 million in grant from Clean Energy and Energy Inclusion for Africa (CEI Africa). It will support the company’s 3.7 MW solar mini grid that it plans for underserved communities in the Goma region. The results-based financing (RBF) will support the electrification of 3 neighborhoods in the Goma region, namely Ndosho, Mugunga, and Lac Vert. Currently, these neighborhoods have an average electricity access rate of only 3%. With the 3.7 MW mini grid, essential services like clean water and telecommunications towers will be powered by clean energy. Nuru says the project will increase its installed capacity to 5 MW after it commissioned a 1.3 MW metro grid in Goma.
Representatives of WATT Renewable and Empower New Energy (in the picture) signed a $13 million funding agreement for the former’s Nigerian operations. (Photo Credit: WATT Renewable Corporation)
Hybrid solar company raises $13 million: Norway’s Empower New Energy has announced $13 million funding for WATT Renewable Corporation, a hybrid solar solutions provider. The company plans to use the proceeds to add 8 MW installed generating capacity and 14.3 MWh of storage in Nigeria through end-to-end services to power telecom towers and communities.
