Latest news with #solar energy
Zawya
19 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Zimbabwe: Solar energy plant for platinum mine
A public-private partnership has resulted in a solar energy project being set up at a major mining house in Zimbabwe. Last week, President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially commissioned the expanded smelter and first phase of a large-scale solar plant at Zimbabwe Platinum Mines (Zimplats). Speaking at the Selous Metallurgical Complex in Ngezi, Mashonaland West, Mnangagwa hailed the dual projects – a $360 million expanded smelter and a 35MWac solar plant – as a testament to strategic collaboration between government and the private sector. The developments form part of Zimplats' broader $1.8 billion expansion programme, set to run through 2031, which also includes a base metal refinery, additional mining developments and a total 185MW of installed solar capacity. Senior Executive Vice President, Afreximbank Group, Denys Denya, speaks to ESI Africa about the critical need of prioritising the interests and well-being of local mining communities in the extraction and processing of Africa's mineral resources 'These developments are a remarkable milestone in Zimbabwe's quest for industrial advancement, energy self-sufficiency and environmental sustainability. 'They demonstrate Zimplats' commitment to remaining a strategic partner in our national Vision 2030,' Mnangagwa was quoted by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation as saying. The 38MW smelter expansion, completed in December 2024, triples the mine's smelting capacity and is designed to enhance processing efficiency while reducing energy costs and environmental impact. Meanwhile, the 35MWac solar plant – occupying 106 hectares – represents Phase 1A of Zimplats' larger renewable energy strategy to reduce emissions and ensure stable power supply to its operations. Zimplats, a subsidiary of South Africa's Impala Platinum Holdings (Implats), is the country's largest producer of platinum group metals (PGMs). As a heavy energy consumer, the company said it has committed to reducing its carbon footprint through a two-pronged approach involving solar power development and direct importation of cleaner hydropower from Zambia. 'Locally supplied energy, largely generated from thermal sources, contributes significantly to carbon emissions. Our aim is to migrate to cleaner, renewable energy sources and maintain an optimal energy mix comprising solar, hydroelectric and local grid power,' Zimplats noted in its 2024 Integrated Annual Report. Energy shortage woes in Zimbabwe In recent years, Zimbabwe has faced recurrent power shortages, with loadshedding disrupting industrial production and household consumption. According to the World Bank, only around 49.6% of Zimbabwe's population had access to electricity as of 2021. Mnangagwa also emphasised the critical role of mining in Zimbabwe's economic transformation. 'With Zimbabwe among the top countries in platinum reserves, it is commendable that the sub-sector is well-coordinated with clear and achievable benchmarks for success. 'The generation that comes after us should be able to thank us for creating a legacy that benefits generations to come,' he said. Mining remains one of Zimbabwe's top-performing sectors, contributing around 12% to GDP, as well as foreign currency earnings and employment. The President reiterated that projects such as Zimplats' expansion should deliver not only macroeconomic gains but also tangible benefits for communities, including jobs, skills development and improved infrastructure.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Emerge, Misk City sign landmark solar agreement to power vision for green urban future
Emerge, the energy solutions joint venture between Masdar and EDF power solutions, has signed a long-term solar energy agreement with Misk City to deliver sustainable electricity over the next 20 years, marking a milestone in the City's journey to becoming a model of environmental innovation and green urbanism. The signing ceremony was held in Riyadh at Misk City and attended by David Henry, CEO of Misk City, Omar AlDaweesh, Emerge board member, Michel Abi Saab, General Manager of Emerge, and Samuel Ménard, Economic Counsellor and Anouar Mekkas, Nuclear and Renewable Energy Advisor at the French Embassy in Riyadh. The agreement will see the development of a 621-kilowatt peak (kWp) rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) plant atop a dedicated carport structure and other assets within Misk City, located in the northwest of Riyadh. Once operational, the system is expected to significantly reduce the city's CO₂ footprint, contributing significantly to Misk City's ambition of achieving a higher level of environmental performance through LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification and establishing itself as one of the region's most advanced green urban communities. Misk City is the world's first nonprofit city of its kind, a pioneering urban model that reflects the Kingdom's ambition to cultivate knowledge, creativity, and sustainable development in alignment with Vision 2030. Designed to integrate innovation, education, and sustainability, Misk City offers a dynamic, human-centered environment that attracts talent and fosters entrepreneurship and creativity. It serves as a regional hub for education, digital media, culture, and the arts, strategically positioned as a leading platform for both local and international institutions. With sustainability at its core, Misk City is committed to setting new benchmarks in green urbanism. From renewable energy integration and utilising green schemes, to fostering walkability urban context and smart mobility solutions, the City reflects a holistic approach to an outstanding urban development. Building on a framework agreement signed earlier this year, the partnership reflects both entities' shared commitment to decarbonisation, energy innovation, and sustainable urban transformation. Emerge will undertake the full development and delivery of the project, including engineering and design, financing, procurement, construction, operations and maintenance. David Henry, CEO of Misk City, said, 'From the very beginning, Misk City has been envisioned as a forward-looking, sustainable urban community – designed to empower future generations and lead by example in innovation and environmental responsibility. Integrating clean energy into our infrastructure is a natural extension of that vision. This project marks a meaningful step in advancing our sustainability goals, reinforcing our commitment to building a city that thrives in harmony with its environment.' Omar AlDaweesh, Emerge board member and CEO for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, EDF Group and EDF power solutions, said, 'This partnership is a testament to the growing momentum for clean energy adoption in the Kingdom. By supporting Misk City's pioneering sustainability goals, Emerge is proud to be contributing to a new urban narrative, one where innovation and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. Emerge's holistic, turnkey model removes complexity and accelerates the transition to clean power for clients across the region.' Ali Alshimmari, Emerge board member and Director, Strategic & Special Projects, Masdar, said, 'At Emerge, every project we deliver is tailored to the unique needs and ambitions of our partner. This agreement with Misk City exemplifies our commitment to supporting clean energy transformation through fully customised energy solutions. By drawing on the global expertise of Masdar and the EDF Group, we ensure world-class quality and innovation at every stage – from design and financing to construction and long-term operations.'
Japan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Amid fossil fuel shift in U.S., hope emerges for India and Japan tie-up on solar
The latest data has made it official — India overtook Japan in 2023 to become the world's third-largest generator of solar energy. But at the International Solar Festival held at the Osaka Expo earlier this month, the focus wasn't on competition but rather how India and Japan can partner to grow solar capacity together. The gathering, the second of its kind, was organized by the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and brought together business leaders, government officials and other representatives from Japan, India and ISA member nations. The goal was to tell the story of solar and its potential as a driver of economic growth to visitors from around the world. 'We wanted to have the International Solar Festival in Osaka because one of the key challenges is on getting the private sector to look at new frontier solar technologies, which is linked to the question of how Japan and India can collaborate meaningfully,' said Ashish Khanna, the director-general of the ISA. The ISA, founded in 2015 at COP21 in Paris and based in India, has more than 100 member countries. Of those, India and Japan are two of the largest economies and are widely seen as leaders in global solar and solar-linked technologies. In addition to promoting tech to the private sector, the alliance also seeks to address another challenge — the lack of progress on expanding solar generation and production in developing countries, despite massive potential. Case in point, the most recent analysis from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) found that Asia, Europe and North America accounted for 90% of renewable capacity growth in 2024. 'Bridging the divide and closing the investment gap between countries and regions is critical,' said Francesco La Camera, IRENA's director-general, in an emailed statement. Expanding partnerships The ISF in Osaka was just the latest in a series of energy- and climate-related discussions between Japan and India. In 2022, the two countries launched a Clean Energy Partnership, with the goal of expanding cooperation on clean energy and energy security. India also joined the Japan-led Asia Energy Transition Initiative (AETI) in 2023. More recently, talks are ongoing about India becoming the next country eligible to receive funds under Japan's joint crediting mechanism (JCM), one of the largest state-led carbon credit and offset programs in the world. 'The JCM is expected to generate employment opportunities in both nations by fostering investments in low-carbon technologies,' said Shamkant Mirashi, an India-based sustainability consultant. 'By subsidizing these technologies, Japan can help equalize the cost of clean energy with conventional polluting sources.' The International Solar Alliance hosted a festival at the Osaka Expo, with collaboration in the key renewable energy source being the order of the day. | Nithin Coca Then, in 2024, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) provided funds to support Osaka Gas' joint investment in renewable energy projects with India's CleanMax. Despite this, there's still much more to be done, says Khanna, as overall bilateral investment and trade in solar have been limited. That, he hopes, will soon change. 'All partnerships take time,' Khanna said. 'We want to see the R&D and manufacturing ecosystem of Japan marrying with the entrepreneurial talent and market of India, a harmonization of alignment. How this translates into concrete business opportunities is something that we would like to facilitate more.' One challenge is that most major Japanese companies and financial institutions have yet to make large investments into solar technologies in India, which Khanna says is disappointing, as solar provides a safe, reliable investment opportunity. 'Japan has not exercised enough the financial muscle of its pension funds and institutional investors,' said Khanna. 'The time is now ... to create an ecosystem by which more concrete investment decisions are made.' Part of that reluctance could be the fact that major players in Japan and the government itself are not exactly all-in on solar energy. One criticism of Japan's approach, via entities such as AETI but also the Asia Zero Emissions Community (AZEC) has been a focus on pushing alternative Japanese technologies such as ammonia and biomass co-firing, hydrogen and carbon capture and storage. Critics say these alternatives are either not viable, short-term solutions or would have limited impact in reducing emissions. But Khanna did not necessarily see these efforts as distracting from solar. 'I think the answer for that is not either/or, but and,' said Khanna. 'Green hydrogen and ammonia have huge potential if the economics can be sorted out, and India can be a source of green hydrogen for Japan.' The elephants in the room Two notable countries were absent at the ISF — the United States and China. Despite their lack of engagement in the solar alliance, both countries, in their respective ways, cast a long shadow on the potential for Japan-India solar collaboration. While the U.S. has the second-highest solar capacity in the world and, under the Inflation Reduction Act passed during the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden, has made strides in solar and cleantech manufacturing, the world's largest economy is seeing dramatic cutbacks in global climate support this year. Employees carry solar panels at a plant in Aksu in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in 2012. | Reuters The main driver is the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, whose recent budget reconciliation law passed by Congress would reduce solar tax credits, part of a sudden shift away from support for renewable energy projects. 'It guts clean energy tax credits, kills American jobs and ships them overseas, raises electricity bills for families and small businesses, and weakens our energy independence,' said Andrew Reagan, president of the nonprofit Clean Energy for America, in a press release. Efforts set up under the Biden administration, like a partnership with Japan focused on expanding technology and supply chains for floating offshore wind, look unlikely to continue. Instead, amid trade tensions between the two countries, the U.S. has been pushing Japan to buy more of its liquefied natural gas. In fact, new trade tariffs also could limit the export of solar components and panels to the U.S., while the Trump administration prioritizes the domestic expansion of planet-warming fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. China, meanwhile, has been praised for its rapid domestic expansion of solar, adding more capacity than the rest of the world combined in 2024. But the industry has numerous ethical concerns, including well-documented links to forced labor and human rights violations in the Uyghur homelands in the far-western region of Xinjiang, where many solar components are produced. 'There is a significant risk that that solar panels are being built with Uyghur forced labor, potentially across every stage: from quartz mining and polysilicon refinement to module construction and the development of the plant itself,' said Elfidar Iltebir, president of the nonprofit Uyghur American Association. A solar power plant in Solapur, India, in March. In 2024, the country overtook Japan to become the country with the third-largest solar capacity in the world. | Reuters Chinese companies, backed by state subsidies and access to cheap energy and labor, have been able to undercut solar manufacturing in Europe and Japan. Even India's attempts to expand domestic production have run into issues, and the country remains reliant on Chinese components. Exploring new technologies With those issues plaguing the industry in the world's top two economies, tie-ups between countries such as India and Japan become all the more important. For Khanna, one path forward might be developing alternatives to photovoltaics, the most common solar technology used today. 'If the industry is disrupted, that can itself become a source of diversification,' said Khanna. 'Perovskite, for example, doesn't need silica or ingots, and solid state batteries may not need lithium. The current supply chain can become a new supply chain if these technologies can be commercialized, and there is clearly a role for India, Japan and other countries to collaborate.' A model already exists, says Khanna. One of India's leading foreign collaborators is Shizuoka Prefecture-based Suzuki, which partnered with India's Maruti to build the country's largest automaker, and have even released an electric car together. 'What will be the Suzuki for solar in India,' asked Khanna. 'Suzuki transformed the automobile sector, by taking a bet. Who will take that bet, that private sector leadership, for solar?'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
EU faces first solar energy growth dip in a decade
The European Union (EU) is expected to experience its first annual downturn in solar energy expansion in a decade, according to SolarPower Europe's 2025 mid-year analysis. This anticipated decrease comes as some member states reduce subsidies for rooftop solar installations, reflecting a shift in political priorities amid economic pressures. According to SolarPower Europe report, the EU's projected new solar capacity for 2025 stands at 64.2GW, marking a slight drop of 1.4% from the previous year's installation of 65.1GW. The anticipated year-on-year decline would represent the first slowdown in the growth of Europe's solar market since 2015, potentially hindering the region's rapid transition to clean energy. In 2023, solar capacity growth surged by 51%, following a more modest increase of just 3% the previous year. Reuters reported that in the past month, solar energy accounted for 22% of the total electricity generated in the EU, making it the largest single source of power generation for that period. However, current deployment rates suggest that by 2030, the EU will miss its target by approximately 27GW out of the necessary 750GW for meeting climate objectives and reducing dependence on Russian energy sources. A factor behind this shortfall is due to fewer residential rooftop panel installations, which are expected only to account for 15% of new capacity this year, a reduction from their 30% share between 2020 and 2023. Countries such as Germany and France have begun scaling back feed-in tariff payments for rooftop systems; similarly, support measures are being cut in the Netherlands for households exporting surplus power back into the grid system. SolarPower Europe deputy CEO Dries Acke said: 'The number may seem small, but the symbolism is big. Market decline, right when solar is meant to be accelerating, deserves EU leaders' attention. "Europe needs competitive electricity, energy security, and climate solutions. Solar delivers on all of those needs. Now policymakers must deliver the electrification, flexibility and energy storage frameworks that will drive solar success through the rest of the decade.' "EU faces first solar energy growth dip in a decade" was originally created and published by Energy Monitor, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Reuters
7 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
EU solar energy rollout slows for first time in decade as subsidies cut
BRUSSELS, July 24 (Reuters) - The European Union's expansion of solar energy is on track for its first annual slowdown in more than a decade, industry data showed on Thursday, as some governments reduce subsidies for rooftop solar panels. The trend reflects shifting political priorities in Europe as some member countries have scaled back green measures or support for clean energy from budgets stretched by spending on defence and local industries. The EU is on track to install 64.2 gigawatts of new solar energy capacity in 2025, a 1.4% fall from the 65.1GW installed last year, industry association SolarPower Europe said. "There's a kind of paralysis. There's still interest, but people aren't making decisions," said Peter Knuth, managing director of German photovoltaic systems installation company enerix. Early purchases in 2022 and 2023, along with rising interest rates, and economic uncertainty have contributed to the falling demand, not falling electricity prices, Knuth added. The year-on-year drop would mark the first time since 2015 that the growth of Europe's solar market has slowed - denting an area of fast progress in Europe's shift to clean energy. Solar capacity growth soared by 51% in 2023, although last year growth had already slowed to 3%. Last month, solar generated 22% of total EU electricity, making it the EU's largest single source of power generation that month. But current deployment rates now indicate the EU will fall short, by about 27GW, of the 750GW of solar capacity which SolarPower Europe said is needed by 2030 for the EU's climate targets and plans to phase out Russian energy. The main cause of the slowdown is fewer residential rooftop solar panel installations - a sector that is set to make up 15% of total new capacity this year, halving the roughly 30% share it held over 2020 to 2023. Germany and France are among the countries reducing their feed-in tariff payments for rooftop solar energy, while the Netherlands is also reducing support for households that export their excess solar power to the grid. Misleading communication regarding a law passed by the previous German government in February cancelling compensation for solar power grid during peak times along with changes to the renewable heating law had also hit demand, Knuth said. The new German government's plans to reassess the need for renewables and promises of an expansion of gas power plants are also not helping, he said. The German Economy Ministry was not immediately available to comment on the data. Asked what the German government could do to help the market, Knuth said: "Best to stay quiet. Honestly. The endless debate about renewable energy ... is counterproductive."
