Solar power is being increasingly explored as an option for energy development in Africa, largely because the lack of energy infrastructure in some countries allows for fresh technology implementation. Similarly to mobile networks looking to make progress in Africa, solar power initiatives are aided by the absence of legacy structures that would otherwise need to be revamped or overhauled at great cost.

Meaning new technology can skip over expensive and time-consuming upgrades. So, interested states can experiment with newer tech, as long as they have the wherewithal. Several African countries are looking towards solar as the future for energy, and Morocco’s projects are the latest to obtain funding. The African Development Bank recently approved loans totaling nearly US$250 million for the second phase of the Moroccan Ouarzazate CSP solar complex project. The project has a goal of creating a total capacity of 500 MW; this second phase aims to develop two new power stations with capacity totaling 350 MW. Ouarzazate is part of the larger Moroccan Solar Energy Programme, which aims to develop 2,000 MW of capacity by 2020.

BizTechAfrica quotes Alex Rugamba, director of the AfDB Energy, Environment and Climate Change Department: The project is one of the innovative developments in the energy sector supported by the Bank, based on the technology used and the financial arrangements with the support of the Climate Investment Funds, namely a public-private partnership supported by several donors.

The Bank’s participation in this second phase will support its position as a leading partner in the development of Morocco and strengthen its dominant role in combatting the effects of climate change.

On the opposite side of the continent, the largest solar power plant was launched in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province in November. The Jasper solar power plant contains 325,000 photovoltaic modules and will provide energy for approximately 80,000 homes. In addition, projects in West Africa are flourishing as rural communities discover that solar may be a better energy alternative than attempts to rig connections to national power grids. Harnessing sunlight will be essential for future energy systems in countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali. Reports note that every year, those countries receive up to 3,000 hours of intense sunlight, making them ideal landscapes for solar, photovoltaic power technology.

Given the current global focus on mitigating the use of fossil fuels for energy, Africa is likely to be the poster child for the benefits of using sunpower.

Source: http://blogs.blouinnews.com