AIKO will supply PV modules for Egypt’s 1.2 GW Nefer Menya solar project, which includes 600 MWh of battery.  (Photo Credit: AIKO)
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Middle East & Africa Solar PV News Snippets: AIKO Lands 1.2 GW Module Deal For Egypt & More

Infinity Power contracts EPC companies for 774 MW in South Africa; Mulilo achieves financial close for 77 MW project; GSU expanding Somaliland project with solar and storage.

Anu Bhambhani

AIKO to Supply 1.2 GW ABC Modules for Egypt Solar Plant

Infinity Power has signed up Chinese solar manufacturer AIKO as the sole solar PV module supplier for Egypt’s Nefer Menya solar project. The announcement was made during the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town. Located in Egypt’s Minya Governorate, the project will combine 1.2 GW of solar PV capacity with 600 MWh of battery energy storage system (BESS). Once operational, it is expected to provide electricity to around 1.4 million homes.

Infinity Power says it selected AIKO’s all-back-contact (ABC) solar modules following technical and financial assessments. The project is backed by financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and supports Egypt’s target of generating 42% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

Infinity Power Signs EPC Awards for 774 MW in South Africa

Infinity Power has signed conditional EPC agreements for 2 utility-scale solar projects in South Africa totaling 773.6 MW during the Africa Energy Forum (AEF) in Cape Town. The company selected PowerChina Guizhou Engineering as the preferred EPC contractor for the 488 MW Ngwedi Cluster Solar PV Projects in Free State, covering the Onderstepoort Solar 1 and 2 sites. It also signed a conditional EPC contract with India-based Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy for the 285.6 MW Highveld Solar PV Project in Mpumalanga under South Africa’s REIPPPP Bid Window 7. According to Infinity Power, the projects are expected to supply electricity to about 456,000 homes. The company said the developments align with its target of reaching 10 GW of operational renewable energy capacity across Africa by 2032.

Mulilo Reaches Financial Close on 77 MW South Africa BESS

South African renewable energy developer Mulilo has reached financial close on the Hartebeesfontein Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a 77 MW/308 MWh project in North West Province. The project was awarded under South Africa’s Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP) Bid Window 2 under which it secured 5 of the 8 projects awarded. It is located near the Hermes Main Transmission Substation. Once operational, the facility will provide grid support and ancillary services to the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA) under a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA). Mulilo said financing for the project is being provided by Absa, Standard Bank and Nedbank. The company added that the project is its 5th renewable energy project to reach financial close in 2026.

Green Berbera Phase II adds 12 MW solar and 70 MWh BESS

Global South Utilities (GSU) is expanding the Green Berbera Initiative Phase II in Berbera, Somaliland through a combination of solar generation and battery energy storage. The project includes 12 MW of solar PV capacity and a 70 MWh utility-scale BESS. According to local media reports, it builds on 5 MW solar plant completed under phase I. It is expected to generate around 24,000 MWh of clean electricity annually. GSU says this will improve energy security and reducing reliance on diesel-powered generation. According to project developers, the initiative will provide renewable electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of more than 67,000 households and supply 100% renewable power to the Berbera Economic Zone. The project is also intended to support long-term economic development and strengthen energy resilience in the Horn of Africa.