Page 14 - AfrElec Week 34 2021

AfrElec NEWS IN BRIEF AfrElec

a large chunk of the population and a single 63 solar bids in latest black-out
house accordingly.
Solar installations help to decline the rate renewables procurement Nigerians this week again suffered a national
of electricity per unit. Incentives given by the power grid collapse.
government for solar power generation are the round On August 23, the national power grid
key factors that interest consumers to mount collapsed for the second time in a period of
solar at a singular level. Coupled with no South Africa’s latest renewables procurement one month, throwing many households and
carbon releases, this is among the chief causes window for 2.6GW of capacity has received businesses in parts of Nigeria into darkness.
that have resulted in the development of the bids from 102 potential project developers, The collapse occurred around noon,
solar PV market worldwide. This is estimated including 63 solar projects, according to the according to information sourced from the
to drive the solar power installations in the country’s Department of Mineral Resources electricity distribution companies.
Middle East region during the forecast period. and Energy (DMRE). Earlier on July 28, the grid had suffered
The global health crisis triggered by the Launched earlier this year with the a total collapse, which the Transmission
spread of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted intention of procuring 1GW of solar PV and Company of Nigeria attributed to the loss of
in an adverse impact on almost every sector 1.6GW of wind, the tender represents Bid 611 megawatts at two power stations.
and industry. The Middle East & Africa solar Window 5 of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Jude Okonkwo, a Lagos-based business
photovoltaic (PV) industry is greatly reliant IPP Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). owner, lamented the impact of the collapse
on imports from other countries and also Bids were allowed to be submitted until 16 on his business, calling on the government
technical workforce, which mostly comes August, and solar projects up to a maximum to find a lasting solution to the incessant grid
from EPC contractors. size of 75MW are eligible. Preferred bidders collapse.
With the national lockdowns announced are expected to be announced in October or “This is almost becoming a monthly
and the absence of workers, the investment November, with winning bidders required occurrence and it is not good for business and
movement for solar in the Middle East is likely to reach financial close for their projects by the economy at all,” he told Premium Times in
to observe a collapse with a postponement March 2022 and connect the installations to an interview.
in distribution time for current schemes. the grid no later than April 2024. Another Lagos resident who declined to
In accordance with the Arab Petroleum DMRE previously said it hopes to attract have his name in print lamented the impact
Investments Corporation (APICORP), the projects that are fully developed or are nearly of the blackout on households and business
energy investments in the MENA region as ready and that will be able to connect and operations in parts of the country.
expected to fall by $73bn between 2020 and supply power quickly, without requiring major The national grid is managed by
2024. works in terms of grid integration. Transmission Company of Nigeria, but suffers
Moreover, like other nations, the Middle The bidding round is the first stage of a incessant system collapse due to what experts
East countries too observed an extensive procurement announced last September for described as poor infrastructure.
reduction in solar energy installation volume 11,813MW of new generation capacity that
in comparison to the prior year. will come from a range of sources by 2027.
FORTUNE BUSINESS INSIGHTS

SOL AR GRID

South Africa receives Nigerians suffer another

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