The rapid setup is ideal over the long lead times required for hydro or fossil fuel plants
By ALLAN OLINGO
/ AP, NAIROBI
Africa’s next generation of power projects is increasingly being anchored around solar and wind power and battery storage, as governments and investors shift away from coal and large hydropower dams in search of cheaper, faster and more reliable power.The shift is visible in a US$1.5 billion energy agreement between China and Zambia announced early this month that includes three separate 300MW projects spanning solar, wind and coal-fired power.While the inclusion of coal underscores the continent’s need for stable baseload electricity, African countries facing rising fuel import bills as a result of the Iran war, unreliable grids and growing industrial demand are increasingly turning to renewable energy projects that can be deployed faster and more cheaply than traditional plants.
A shepherd watches livestock near Khi Solar One, a solar thermal plant that converts the sun’s light energy into electricity, outside Upington, South Africa, on Aug. 29 last year
