South African utility Eskom has extended its waiver of registration-related charges for eligible customer-owned generation systems of up to 50 kVA connected directly to its distribution network. The waiver, previously due to expire on September 30, 2026, will remain in place until further notice. The waiver gives eligible Eskom customers more time to register grid-connected rooftop solar installations without paying the registration-related charges. However, the registration requirement remains. Following Eskom’s review of international electricity markets, the utility said registration requirements are needed to support safe grid integration, network planning, and system reliability.
Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, a protected area focused on conserving the kingdom’s wildlife and natural habitats, has launched a Sand gazelle breeding program at a 250 MW solar power facility. The initiative in the Tabuk region is called ReWildingVoltaics. It began in May 2026 with 38 Sand gazelles: 33 females and 5 males. The 505-hectare solar facility provides shade for the animals, with trials showing that areas beneath the panels can have ground temperatures 5°C to 10°C lower. Its predator-proof perimeter provides a controlled environment. It aims to build a breeding population that could reach around 600 gazelles by 2031, with the animals eventually reintroduced into the wider reserve. The solar facility is operated by AMAALA Sustainable Company for Energy (ASCE), a consortium comprising EDF Group, Masdar, SUEZ, and Korea East-West Power. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported it as a new global first in conservation and wildlife protection.
Noor Energy 1, the company developing the fourth phase of Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park (MBR Solar Park), has completed a $2.7 billion refinancing ahead of schedule. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) Managing Director and CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer called it the world’s largest single-site concentrated solar power (CSP) project that also includes solar PV technology. It has capacity for up to 15 hours of thermal energy storage. It is designed to provide clean, dispatchable electricity to Dubai during both day and night. The refinancing will help reduce financing costs and strengthen the project’s financial structure, stated DEWA.
Tabuk Agricultural Development Co. (TADCO), a Saudi Arabia-based agricultural company, along with 386 Vibrant Solar Solutions, is exploring a 51 MW AC solar PV plant. Under a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed, the duo is planning a solar power project at TADCO’s site in Tabuk. The project is expected to generate around 195,000 MWh of electricity annually and will include related electrical infrastructure. TADCO said the project aims to help it use renewable electricity and reduce operating costs. TADCO has also obtained permits to study two solar plants with a combined licensed capacity of 51 MW AC, or 25.5 MW AC each, for self-consumption.
French renewable energy company Qair received the first disbursement from a €37.9 million financing package for two hybrid solar projects in Chad. The Gassi and Lamadji projects will have a combined 30 MW of solar PV and 8 MWh of battery storage capacity. Developed under an agreement with the Republic of Chad, these projects are backed by a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with TchadElec, the country’s national electricity utility. The financing includes €15.2 million loans each from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Proparco, a €6 million reimbursable grant from the AfDB-managed Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), and €1.5 million in additional funding from Proparco/Agence Française de Développement (AFD). An €8 million partial risk guarantee from the AfDB and Green Climate Fund further supports the financing structure. The projects are expected to strengthen Chad’s electricity supply and are part of wider efforts to expand renewable energy access in the country.
Mirova, a sustainable investment firm, has closed a $10 million financing deal to support solar-powered irrigation systems in Kenya. The financing, provided through Mirova’s Gigaton Fund, will support SunCulture, a company that provides solar irrigation systems to smallholder farmers. Kaleidofin acted as the portfolio monitoring agent. The deal is based on securitizing payments owed by customers for the systems. Mirova said SunCulture has sold over 85,000 solar irrigation systems and pumps since 2012. These solutions, it claims, help farmers reduce dependence on unpredictable rainfall patterns while improving agricultural productivity.
Nava Limited, an Indian diversified company with interests in power generation, mining, ferro alloys and renewable energy, has commissioned a 100 MW solar power plant in Zambia. It energized the project through its step-down subsidiary, Maamba Solar Energy Limited (MSEL). Nava MSEL has a 20-year PPA with ZESCO, Zambia’s national power utility, for the entire electricity generated by the project. Nava said the commissioning marks its formal entry into utility-scale renewable energy and expands its business beyond its traditional sectors. MSEL is held 65% by Nava Global, Nava’s international arm, and 35% by ZCCM Investments Holdings.
Off-grid solar company Sun King has received a $5 million equity investment from Acumen to expand its operations in Zambia. It expects the investment from Acumen’s Hardest-to-Reach (H2R) Catalyze initiative to help expand its pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar business and attract additional local-currency financing. Sun King aims to provide energy access to nearly 5.6 million people in Zambia over the next five years, including up to 4.5 million people gaining access for the first time.
