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					</table><p>Until recently, large-scale energy storage was barely a consideration in the Middle East, where fossil fuels have long dominated power generation. With renewable energy projects expanding across the region, energy storage has started gaining traction.</p>
<p>Unlike Europe, North America, and Asia, where renewable energy and storage technologies are well-established, the Middle East remains in the early stages of development. Currently, only a few companies have invested in battery energy storage systems (BESS). However, this is expected to change significantly as the renewables sector in the region continues to grow.</p>
<p>The region’s installed renewable energy capacity reached 32 GW in 2023 and is expected to approach 40 GW by year-end. By 2030, it is projected to grow to 180 GW, reflecting a compounded annual growth rate of 30%, according to the <a href="https://www.worldfutureenergysummit.com/content/dam/sitebuilder/rxae/worldfutureenergysummit/docs/MESIA-Solar-Outlook-Report-2024.pdf.coredownload.133677983.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Middle East Solar Industry Association.</a></p>
<p>Five out of the region’s twelve countries have announced net-zero targets, with the UAE and Oman aiming for 2050 and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait targeting 2060. The UAE has also pledged to reduce emissions by 19% from 2019 levels by 2030 and committed $30 billion to climate-focused investments unveiled at COP28.</p>
<p>However, the growing scale of renewables in MENA’s energy mix has exposed grid operators to the challenges of the “duck curve,” a pattern where solar generation peaks during the day but demand surges in the evening. Without sufficient storage, this imbalance leads to wasted energy and puts pressure on traditional power projects to meet peak demand.</p>
<p>To flatten the duck curve and reduce curtailment, utilities have found it necessary to introduce flexibility into the grid by deploying BESS to store surplus electricity for later use. Besides providing storage, BESS enables capacity firming, energy arbitrage, frequency regulation, and other ancillary services that improve grid resilience and efficiency.</p>
<p>Saudi Arabia already has an operational capacity of 2.1 GW solar PV, and 5.3 GW is under development, with commissioning expected this year, according to Blackridge Research and Consulting. Last month, the country prequalified 33 companies for the first group of BESS projects with a total energy storage capacity of 8 gigawatt-hours (GWh).</p>
<p>Flagship projects like NEOM’s Green Hydrogen project are also driving these ambitions. NEOM is implementing a 536 MW/600 MWh BESS facility to achieve 100% renewable energy dependency. Other high-profile projects include ACWA Power’s 1,300 GWh BESS for the Red Sea Project and EDF’s 160 MW/760 MWh BESS for Amaala.</p>
<p>As the main off-takers, government-owned entities are also driving the adoption of BESS across the region. In Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) recently awarded a 7.8 GWh BESS contract to Al Gihaz using Sungrow technology, with commissioning slated for 2025. SEC is also planning a 12.5 GWh tender across five sites by the end of 2024.</p>
<p>The Saudi Power Procurement Company aims to deploy 10 GW/40 GWh of standalone BESS capacity by 2030 through annual tenders of 2 GW/8 GWh starting in 2024. In the UAE, the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) issued a request for proposals for a 400 MW/400 MWh standalone BESS project in mid-2024.</p>
<p>Oman is also boosting energy storage with plans to add BESS to the 500 MW Ibri III Solar IPP, which is now in the early procurement stage. In 2025, Petroleum Development Oman is expected to launch the 100 MW North Solar Storage PV plant, featuring the country’s first lithium-ion battery system to ensure energy transmission beyond daylight hours with a 100 MW peak capacity.</p>
<p>In Egypt, AMEA Power recently signed power purchase agreements to develop the nation’s first utility-scale BESS project, a 300 MWh system. The BESS project is an addition to the 500 MW Abydos solar PV project under construction.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, UAE’s EWEC has recommended deploying 300 MW/300 MWh of BESS capacity within the next three years.</p>
<p>While the demand for energy storage is growing, the technology has existed in other forms for years. Known for its scalability and reliability, pumped hydro storage (PHS) remains the dominant technology, representing 55% of the region’s capacity. Morocco leads the region with two flagship projects: a 350 MW/2,800 MWh facility in Agadir and a 465 MW/3,720 MWh plant in Afourer.</p>
<p>In the UAE, DEWA is <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/dubais-250-mw-project-to-begin-trials-in-q1-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">building</a> a 250 MW pumped hydro storage project in Hatta, set to be the first in the GCC by 2024.</p>
<p>France-based energy company EDF has <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/edf-5-gw-pumped-hydro-storage-project-uae" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> plans to explore the development of a 5 GW pumped hydro storage facility in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. The proposed facility is designed to store energy for up to 12 hours.</p>
<p>The MENA region is also home to a number of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants that offer cost-effective, utility-scale thermal storage. Dubai’s Noor Energy 1, a 950 MW hybrid CSP and PV plant, is the world’s largest single-site hybrid solar project. Morocco’s 200 MW Noor II Ouarzazate CSP includes seven hours of thermal energy storage.</p>
<p>While PHS and CSP will continue to play a major role in MENA’s energy transition, their limitations are driving the region toward more modular and scalable battery technologies. Batteries offer greater flexibility and are better aligned with the region’s goal to rapidly scale renewable energy.</p>
<p>The choice of energy storage technology in MENA often depends on various factors, such as site location, grid requirements, regulatory frameworks, and cost considerations. Currently, most operational projects in the region focus on 10-hour storage, reflecting a global trend where this segment accounts for 90% of installed capacity.</p>
<p>Technologies like NaS, Li-Ion, and flow batteries show that they are ideal for short- to medium-term applications, balancing cost and performance. Projects like Jordan’s 23 MW Al Badiya Solar-Plus-Storage plant showcase how Li-Ion technology is reshaping energy storage across MENA.</p>
<p>However, Li-Ion batteries face challenges in MENA’s extreme climate conditions, where high temperatures can reduce efficiency. This has sparked interest in alternative battery technologies, such as vanadium flow batteries. Though still in pilot stages, like the 0.13 MW/0.50 MWh project at Morocco’s Nour plant, flow batteries promise longer storage durations and lower degradation, making them a viable option for specific applications.</p>
<p>The rise of data centers driven by AI and cloud computing is also accelerating the demand for long-duration energy storage (LDES) in MENA, according to a <a href="https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/unlocking-potential-of-long-duration-energy-storage-in-gcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BCG</a> report. LDES technologies are cost-competitive for longer durations and can decouple energy and capacity. This makes them ideal for intraday, multi-day, and seasonal grid-scale storage. As the region’s power mix becomes more reliant on intermittent renewable energy, LDES is expected to play a crucial role in meeting the growing demand for energy storage lasting 6-8+ hours.</p>
<p>Despite the clear need for energy storage, there are concerns over whether investors are willing to back BESS in this emerging market. High costs and reduced efficiency in hot climates challenge Li-Ion batteries, driving the search for better alternatives.</p>
<p>To promote energy storage growth in MENA, industry analysts advocate for policy changes to remove financial, regulatory, and market barriers. The current single-buyer model, which focuses on generation investment, fails to incentivize energy storage.</p>
<p>Additionally, renewable energy auctions often overlook the revenue potential of BESS. Experts suggest defining energy storage as a distinct asset class, implementing regulatory frameworks with clear targets, and adjusting net-metering schemes.</p>
<p>A report by <a href="https://www.apicorp.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Leveraging_Energy_Storage_in_MENA_EN_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation </a>recommends establishing a MENA Energy Storage Alliance, supported by public-private partnerships, and offering financial incentives like tax benefits and green financing to attract private sector investments. Time-of-use tariffs and renewable-plus-storage auctions can optimize energy storage’s economic and operational benefits while prioritizing utility-scale applications for seamless renewable energy integration.</p>


Scaling Energy Storage in the MENA Region Amidst Renewables Boom


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					</table><p><a href="https://www.gensol.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gensol Engineering</a> and IndiGrid 2 (<a href="https://www.indigrid.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IndiGrid</a>) have won Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam’s (<a href="https://www.guvnl.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GUVNL</a>) auction to set up pilot projects of 250 MW/500 MWh standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Gujarat under tariff-based global competitive bidding (Phase-II).</p>
<p>Gensol won 70 MW/140 MWh, quoting ₹448,996 (~$5,424)/MW/month, and IndiGrid won the remaining 180 MW/360 MWh, quoting ₹449,996 (~$5,436)/MW/month.</p>
<p>The tariff quoted in the auction was 58.43% lower than the ₹1.08 million (~$13,045)/MW/month <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/jsw-renew-energy-wins-seci-tender-1gwh-bess" target="_blank" rel="noopener">quoted</a> by JSW Energy for the Solar Energy Corporation of India’s auction to set up 500 MW/1,000 MWh BESS projects in August 2022.</p>
<p>The other participants who failed to qualify in the financial bid opening are JSW Neo Energy, Hero Solar Energy, NTPC Renewable Energy, ACME Solar Holdings, SJVN Green Energy, and Vent Renewables.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-64094" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GUVNL-500-MWh-BESS-Auction-Result.png" alt="GUVNL 500 MWh BESS Auction Result" width="807" height="223" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GUVNL-500-MWh-BESS-Auction-Result.png 807w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GUVNL-500-MWh-BESS-Auction-Result-300x83.png 300w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GUVNL-500-MWh-BESS-Auction-Result-768x212.png 768w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GUVNL-500-MWh-BESS-Auction-Result-650x180.png 650w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GUVNL-500-MWh-BESS-Auction-Result-624x172.png 624w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GUVNL-500-MWh-BESS-Auction-Result-600x166.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 807px) 100vw, 807px" /></p>
<p>GUVNL had <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/guvnl-500-mwh-battery-energy-storage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">floated</a> the tender for projects in November 2023.</p>
<p>The projects must be developed under a build, own, and operate model. GUVNL seeks to utilize energy storage systems on an on-demand basis, suited to the requirements of the state distribution companies during peak and off-peak hours.</p>
<p>The projects must be completed within 18 months from the effective date of the battery energy storage purchase agreement (BESPA).</p>
<p>The power rating of the project capacity of 500 MWh (250 MW x 2 hours) BESS will be 250 MW, i.e., the maximum value of the active output and input power at the delivery point. The system’s energy rating of 500 MWh will be the dispatchable capacity measured at the metering point.</p>
<p>The BESS will be charged by drawing power from the <a href="https://www.getcogujarat.com/getco_newsite/index.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation</a> network per the dispatch instructions issued by the state load despatch center. Charging and discharging of the system will be under the scope of GUVNL.</p>
<p>Gensol and IndiGrid will be responsible for the maintenance of the transmission system up to the interconnection point. They must also bear the entire infrastructure construction cost from the project up to the interconnection point. They must guarantee a minimum system availability of 95% annually.</p>
<p>The tender had specified that commercially established and operational technologies must be used in the project to minimize technology risks and comply with the codes and standards specified in the guidelines.</p>
<p>The companies have not specified the BESS technology that they will deploy.</p>
<p>In October last year, Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/tender-issued-for-five-bess-projects-in-uttar-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> bids to set up five standalone BESS of 10 MW/40 MWh each in Uttar Pradesh.</p>


Gensol and IndiGrid Win GUVNL’s 500 MWh BESS Auction at Record-Low Tariffs


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					</table><p>Bihar State Power Generation Company (<a href="http://bspgcl.bihar.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BSPGCL</a>) has invited bids to set up a 185 MW grid-connected solar power project with a 254 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Kajra village of the Lakhisarai district in Bihar.</p>
<p>The scope of work includes surveying, design, engineering, procurement, supply, installation, erection, construction, and commissioning of the project on a turnkey engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) basis.</p>
<p>The battery energy storage system must be set up to deliver a maximum power of 45.4 MW for 4 hours.</p>
<p>Out of total solar power generation, 80% of power must be directly injected/evacuated to the grid, and 20% of power will be used for the purpose of BESS charging.</p>
<p>The selected contractor will also be responsible for a ten-year operation and maintenance (O&amp;M) commitment.</p>
<p>The last date for the submission of bids is January 4, 2024. Bids will be opened the same day.</p>
<p>Bidders must submit a non-refundable tender fee of ₹29,500 (~$355.3) and an earnest money deposit of ₹182.6 million (~$2.1 million).</p>
<p>The selected bidder is required to submit a performance bank guarantee cum O&amp;M bank guarantee as 10% of the EPC contract price, inclusive of all taxes and GST, for the first year of O&amp;M.</p>
<p>Subsequently, the bidder should submit the O&amp;M Bank Guarantee as 5% of the EPC contract price, inclusive of all taxes and GST, from the start of the second year of O&amp;M, with a validity of nine years within 30 days from the commencement of the second year of the O&amp;M period.</p>
<p>The selected developer must commission the project within 18 months of receiving the letter of award.</p>
<p>BSPGCL retains the sole discretion to engage a project management consultancy (PMC) or third-party inspection agency (TPI) for comprehensive inspections throughout the project&#8217;s lifecycle, covering procurement, fabrication, installation, hook-up, quality, execution, commissioning, and operation and maintenance.</p>
<p>The bidder should have experience designing, supplying, and overseeing the erection or commissioning of solar photo voltaic (SPV) grid-connected power projects. The cumulative capacity of these projects should be 250 MW within the last ten years.</p>
<p>The bidder should meet one of the following criteria:</p>
<ul>
<li>At least one project of 150 MW capacity or higher.</li>
<li>At least two projects, each of 110 MW capacity or higher.</li>
<li>At least three projects, each of 75 MW capacity or higher.</li>
</ul>
<p>Additionally, they must have experience in completing or currently undertaking the design, engineering, procurement, testing, and commissioning of grid-connected BESS projects with individual capacities of 5 MW/MWh or above.</p>
<p>Alternatively, the bidder should own and operate a manufacturing facility for lithium-ion or superior battery technologies with a capacity of 500 MWh or more, operational at the time of bidding.</p>
<p>The reference grid-connected solar power project and BESS may be located at the same or different sites. The reference project&#8217;s minimum capacity must have been in successful operation for at least 12 months before the bid opening date.</p>
<p>The bidder must demonstrate a cumulative turnover of at least ₹13.5 billion (~$162.5 million) over the past three financial years.</p>
<p>The bidder&#8217;s net worth for the last financial year should be positive, determined by the formula: Net Worth = (Equity + Reserves) – (Revaluation reserves + intangible assets + miscellaneous expenses not written off + carried forward losses).</p>
<p>In May last year, BSPGCL <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/consultancy-250-mw-solar-project-battery-storage-bihar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids to select consultants to develop 200 to 250 MW solar projects with battery energy storage systems in Bihar.</p>
<p>Subscribe to Mercom’s <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-tender-tracker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Solar Tender Tracker</a> to stay on top of the real-time tender activity.</p>


Bihar Invites Bids for 185 MW Solar Project with 254 MWh Battery Storage


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					</table><p>Saudi Arabia’s energy major <a href="https://www.acwapower.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ACWA Power</a> said it will invest $2.4 billion to develop wind projects of 1.5 GW capacity in Uzbekistan. The company also signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the government for these projects.</p>
<p>The wind farm will comprise three 500 MW wind power projects owned by three subsidiaries of ACWA Power.</p>
<p>Further, each of these projects will incorporate a 100 MW capacity battery energy storage system.</p>
<p>Located in the Kungrad district, the wind farm is expected to offset 2.4 million tons of carbon emissions per year and will have a minimum environmental impact due to the utilization of the latest mitigation technologies.</p>
<p>This includes bird-detecting technology, which combines cutting-edge innovations in both image sensors and software to prevent bird fatality.</p>
<p>The wind farm is expected to bolster the Uzbekistan government’s long-term strategy to diversify the country’s energy mix. The country has set targets of  8 GW and 12 GW for solar and wind capacity by 2026 and 2030, respectively.</p>
<p>“Uzbekistan is committed to delivering on policy goals to increase the renewable energy share of the country’s energy mix and reduce carbon emissions… the Kungrad project is a milestone both for our wind industry and the new public-private partnership model,” said Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan.</p>
<p>Previously, an agreement signed between ACWA Power, and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Investment &amp; Foreign Trade in August 2022 laid the foundation for the power purchase and investment agreements.</p>
<p>In June, a consortium led by ACWA Power <a href="https://mercomindia.com/acwa-consortium-to-develop-1-1-gw-onshore-wind-project-in-egypt/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> an agreement to develop a 1.1 GW onshore wind project in Egypt’s Gulf of Suez Gabal el Zeit area with an estimated investment of $1.5 billion.</p>
<p>Recently, the Saudi energy major <a href="https://mercomindia.com/daily-wrap-up-ntpc-commissions-230-mw-solar-tamil-nadu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">partnered</a> with nine Chinese entities to finance, invest, and construct the utility provider’s global clean and renewable energy projects in Saudi Arabia and the Belt and Road Initiative countries.</p>


ACWA Power to Invest $2.4 Billion for 1.5 GW Wind Projects in Uzbekistan


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					</table><p>Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (<a href="https://kredl.karnataka.gov.in/english" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KREDL</a>) has issued a request for proposal for the selection of an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor for the design, engineering, supply, construction, erection, testing, and commissioning of 5 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) power project with 5 MW/16 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Pavagada Ultra Mega Solar Park of Tumakuru district in Karnataka.</p>
<p>The EPC contractor will also be responsible for the operation and maintenance (O&amp;M) of the plant for ten years.</p>
<p>The last date to submit the bids is September 14, 2022. Bids will be opened the following day.</p>
<p>The overall project cost is estimated to be ₹635.73 million (~$8.01 million).</p>
<p>The scope of work also includes the construction of a 66 kV line terminal bay for KREDL BESS at 220/66 kV sub-station number six of Karnataka Solar Power Development Corporation’s Pavagada solar park.</p>
<p>KREDL will allot 43 acres of land, of which 25 would be used to develop the project. Based on the justification by the contractor, additional land might be provided.</p>
<p>The successful bidder must submit a contract performance security of  ₹6.36 million (~$80,050) within 15 days after receiving the letter of award.</p>
<p>To be eligible, bidders must have manufactured or supplied batteries for grid Interactive battery energy storage systems of cumulative installed capacity of 16 MWh or higher. Out of that, at least one grid interactive battery energy storage system should have a 10 MWh capacity or higher. The reference grid interactive battery energy storage system of 10 MWh or higher capacity must have operated for at least 12 months before the techno commercial bid submission date.</p>
<p>Alternatively, they must have a memorandum of understanding with a technical partner who has executed the project mentioned above.</p>
<p>Bidders must have designed, supplied, erected, or supervised erection and commissioned solar PV-based grid-connected power plants of cumulative installed capacity of not less than 10 MW. One project should be a minimum of 5 MW or above at a single location for the public, government, or private client. The reference plants of at least 5 MW, through which bidders are meeting this technical eligibility criterion, must have been in operation for at least 12 months before the date of techno-commercial bid submission.</p>
<p>Bidders should be government-approved super grade licensees and must have executed at least one electrical sub-station of a minimum 66 kV voltage level, consisting of equipment such as 66 kV or above voltage level circuit breakers and a power transformer. The substation must be in operation for at least one year before the date of the techno-commercial bid opening.</p>
<p>The average annual turnover of the bidder should not be less than ₹1.27 billion (~$16.01 million) during any three financial years (FY) out of the preceding five financial years &#8211; from FY 2016-17 until FY 2020-21. The net worth of the bidder as of the last day of the preceding financial year FY 2020-21 should not be less than 100% of the bidder’s paid-up share capital, subject to a minimum of ₹200 million (~$2.52 million) per annum.</p>
<p>In May this year, the Government of Karnataka <a href="https://mercomindia.com/karnataka-aims-10-gw-renewable-projects-2027/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> the new ‘Karnataka Renewable Energy Policy,’ valid for the 2022-2027 period, through which the state aims to develop 10 GW of additional renewable energy projects, with or without energy storage systems.</p>
<p>Subscribe to Mercom’s <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-tender-tracker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Solar Tender Tracker</a> for timely updates on all solar tenders issued by various agencies in India.</p>


EPC Tender Issued for 5 MW Solar with 16 MWh Battery Energy Storage

<p>The Federal Ministry of Education in Nigeria has issued a Request for Qualification (RfQ) for 15 MW ground-mounted solar project with a 5 MW battery energy storage system at the University of Benin (<a href="https://uniben.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNIBEN</a>).</p>
<p>The university, which is in Benin city, is located in Nigeria’s Edo State.</p>
<p>The brief scope of work includes the design, finance, building, operating, and transferring of the solar projects with energy storage system. The projects will be developed on Public-Private- Partnership (PPP) mode.</p>
<p>The objective of the project is to provide reliable and cost-effective electricity to support learning, training, research and development in the university.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.com/solar-potential-8-to-30-gw-west-africa-report/">Recently</a>, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) assessed the energy statistics across 15 West African countries, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo and published  its report “<strong><a href="https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2018/Nov/IRENA_Planning_West_Africa_2018.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Planning and prospects for renewable power: West Africa</a></strong>”. The report projected that solar PV installation in the Regional Economic Community of West African States (<a href="http://www.ecowas.int/">ECOWAS</a>) region ranges from 8 GW to over 20 GW by 2030.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.com/african-development-bank-solar-loan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Last year in May,</a> the African Development Bank (<a href="https://www.afdb.org/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AfDB</a>) had approved a $1.5-million grant from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to support the Nigerian government’s implementation of Phase 1 of the Jigawa 1 GW Independent Power Producer (IPP) Solar Procurement Program.</p>
<p>Africa has lately become the hotbed of renewable energy investments, leading to a spur in solar installations.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.com/uk-100m-electricity-access-sub-saharan-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In December 2018,</a> the United Kingdom committed an additional funding of £100 million for the Renewable Energy Performance Platform (<a href="https://repp.energy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">REPP</a>) which aims to give a major boost to Sub-Saharan Africa’s small to medium-scale renewable energy sector.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.com/opic-600-million-crossboundary-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In November 2018,</a> the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (<a href="https://www.opic.gov/">OPIC</a>), a United States Government agency, provided 600 million shillings (~$5.86 million) to CrossBoundary Energy, a Nairobi-based company which funds commercial and industrial solar in East Africa.</p>
<p>In March 2018, Mercom <a href="https://mercomindia.com/isa-conference-india-pledges-1-4-billion-solar-projects-developing-countries/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on the news of India pledging $1.4 billion to developing nations and west African countries such at a conference organized by the International Solar Alliance (ISA).</p>
<p>Image credit: Edirin247 [<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>], from Wikimedia Commons</p>


Nigeria’s University of Benin Issues 15 MW Solar Tender with 5 MW Battery Energy Storage

<p>The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a loan agreement with the Government of Mongolia under which it will be providing $60.6 million for distributed renewable energy projects in the country.</p>
<p>The loan and grant agreements were signed by Minister of Finance Khurelbaatar Chimed and ADB Country Director for Mongolia Yolanda Fernandez Lommen in Ulaanbaatar. Representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Mongolian Tax Authority witnessed the event.</p>
<p>The loan towards renewable energy is to develop a 41 MW distributed renewable energy system—a first-of-its-kind in Mongolia—using solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy with advanced battery storage technology and energy management systems.</p>
<p>The project will result in the supply of clean and reliable electricity to about 260,000 people in remote and less-developed towns in western Mongolia, who currently rely on high-cost and high-polluting carbon-intensive electricity.</p>
<p>ADB’s funding of $40 million is supplemented by grant co-financing; $14.6 million from the Strategic Climate Fund under the scaling up renewable energy program in low-income countries; and $6 million from the Japan Fund for the joint crediting mechanism. The Government of Mongolia is contributing $5.6 million to the project.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.com/adb-assistance-bangladesh-off-grid-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In July 2018</a>, <a href="https://adb.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ADB</a> announced that it will give $20 million loan to Bangladesh under its Power System Efficiency Improvement Project for the furtherance of off-grid solar solutions in the country. The loan was coupled with $25.44 million in grant financing to encourage off-grid solar photovoltaic (SPV) pumping for agricultural irrigation. The grant included $22.4 million from the Scaling up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries Program, which comes under its Strategic Climate Fund, and another $3 million from the Clean Energy Fund for Output-based Aid under the ADB-administered Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility.</p>
<p>ADB is also supporting Sri Lanka’s rooftop solar PV sector via a loan of <a href="https://mercomindia.com/sri-lanka-50-million-db-rooftop-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$50 million</a>. The goal of the program was to support the government’s “Battle for Solar Power Programme” to achieve the target of installing solar projects worth 200 MW by 2020 and 1,000 MW by 2025.</p>
<p>In February, ADB provided a <a href="https://mercomindia.com/adb-loan-renewable-asean/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$235 million</a> loan to B. Grimm Power Public Company Limited for the expansion of renewable energy projects in the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Previously, the bank also administered a $20 million loan provided by the Canadian Climate Fund for the private sector in Asia under the Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility.</p>
<p>Image Credit: ADB</p>


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