Solar & storage PPA in Egypt: Norway’s Scatec has signed a 25-year USD-denominated corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA) with Egypt Aluminium, the largest aluminum producer and industrial electricity consumer in Egypt. The CPPA is for a 1.1 GW solar PV project with a 100 MW/200 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS), backed by a sovereign guarantee. Egypt Aluminium exports close to 60% of its production to Europe. This agreement is aimed at decarbonizing the company’s aluminum production and meeting the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) requirements to be introduced in 2026.
60 MW project in Botswana: Scatec has commissioned 60 MW of solar PV capacity in Botswana. This is the initial 60 MW of the 120 MW Mmadinare Solar Cluster it is building in the African nation. This is also the company’s maiden project in the country. On completion in the beginning of 2026, it will generate predictable revenues from a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Botswana Power Corporation.
EPC contract for Azerbaijan projects: The China Energy Engineering Group (CEEC) has signed the EPC contract for 2 solar projects in Azerbaijan with Masdar. This includes the ‘largest’ solar PV project under construction in the country, the 580 MW DC/445 MW AC Bilasuvar project, and the 410 MW DC/315 MW AC Banka solar project. Masdar and SOCAR Green had earlier announced the financial close on the 445 MW Bilasuvar and the 315 MW Neftchala solar projects in Azerbaijan (see Financial Close Achieved For 760 MW Azerbaijan Solar Projects).
€100 million for ECOWAS: The 12-country strong Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region has secured a $100 million financial partnership to support climate action and environmental sustainability projects. The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved this amount in a credit line as part of a €150 million envelope, for the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID). The latter will support renewable energy projects including small- and medium-sized solar PV projects and those for sustainable agriculture and water treatment.
10 RESCOs in Nigeria: The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) of Nigeria has signed memorandums of agreement (MoU) with 10 renewable energy service companies (RESCO) for the generation of 948 MW renewable energy. This capacity will be supported under the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) program. Among the signatories include Oando Clean Energy, which has plans to establish a 1.2 GW solar module assembly plant in the country (see Nigeria To Host 1.2 GW Solar PV Module Assembly Plant).
5.8 MW rooftop solar plant in Morocco: Africa-focused Norwegian renewable energy financier and co-developer Empower New Energy will build a 5.8 MW rooftop solar plant in Morocco. Located on a 49,000 m² rooftop area of manufacturing and logistics company Saray Immo’s new manufacturing site, it will be Morocco’s ‘largest’ rooftop solar plant. This is the company’s 3rd and largest investment in the country. Both the companies signed a 12-year solar power agreement for the $3.5 million investment.
Integrated solar and storage in Middle East: China’s JinkoSolar has deployed a 250 kW / 645 kWh liquid cooling microgrid energy storage system (ESS) for a remote chicken farm in the Middle East. This project integrates a 180 kW solar PV system with diesel generation. It has reduced the daily operation time of diesel generators from 24 hours to 1.5 hours. The farm thus has been able to reduce its diesel consumption by 93% and will secure clean energy supply for over 300 days. JinkoSolar says the integrated Power Conversion System (PCS) houses a 250kW inverter, ensuring seamless switching between grid-following and grid-forming modes to maintain stable load power supply.
Energy Transition Hub: UK-based consulting and engineering company Wood has launched an Energy Transition Hub in the Middle East to provide advisory and technical expertise to companies interested in the subject. It will provide advisory services on carbon, renewable energy, hydrogen, carbon capture, and storage and renewable energy generation and decarbonization at large. It chose the Middle East for its focus on energy diversification and net zero goals such as the UAE Net Zero 2050 and Saudi Vision 2030.