O2 Global Energy will develop 400 MW of solar generation capacity, supported by battery energy storage to supply clean electricity to a planned AI data center (AIDC) project in Oman. The $3 billion AI and green computing data center complex, planned for Salalah, is proposed to have a capacity of up to 400 MW and can be expanded in the future. It is being developed by a consortium led by Oman’s Mubbadrah Investment. Other consortium members include investment advisory firm Sustopia Capital and US-based data center developer Vela Tech. Beyond the solar capacity, the project will also draw electricity from the grid. According to local media reports, it is designed for hyperscale operators and will host large-scale AI training and inference workloads. US-based AI infrastructure and cloud computing company Crusoe may enter the fray as a potential offtaker for the data center capacity. A signing ceremony was held during the state visit of Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the UK. 
Norway-based renewable energy company Scatec has secured $217 million in project financing for Phase I of its Dandara Solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Egypt. Phase I will comprise a 569 MW solar power plant integrated with a 100 MW BESS, supplying clean electricity to Egypt Aluminum under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA). The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the European Investment Bank (EIB) are providing financing. It covers approximately 80% of Phase I’s estimated $271 million capital expenditure. Additionally, Scatec has signed a partnership agreement with the National Bank of Egypt (NBE), which will take a 20% ownership stake in the project. Commercial operations of Phase I are scheduled for H1 2028, while Phase II will enter construction in H1 2027. 
Egypt-based clean energy company NoorNation has raised $1.05 million in a seed funding round to expand its decentralized infrastructure business. It will also help the company scale its Solar Irrigation-as-a-Service (SIaaS) model, under which smallholder farmers receive solar-powered irrigation without upfront capital expenditure. Farmers can access solar irrigation through flexible pay-as-you-go payments, reducing financial barriers to adopting clean-energy-powered irrigation systems. The funding is backed by Linah Group, Catalyst Fund, and KBW Ventures.  
Algeria has commissioned a 300 MW solar PV power plant in the El Oued province. It was inaugurated by Mourad Adjal, the country’s Energy and Renewable Energies Minister. Local media reports describe it as the country’s largest solar PV installation. It is part of the country’s plan to develop 15 GW of solar PV capacity by 2035. This is the third major solar plant Algeria has commissioned in 2026, following two 200 MW facilities in El M’Ghair and Biskra provinces. Together, the three projects have now added 700 MW of solar generation capacity this year. 
UK-headquartered renewable energy developer Solarcentury Africa is expanding its solar portfolio in Zambia with a 112 MW solar power plant for mining company First Quantum Minerals (FQM). The Kusoka Solar Plant will supply electricity to FQM’s Trident mining operations, including the Sentinel copper mine and Enterprise nickel mine. Separately, it has commissioned Phase II of its Mailo solar plant in Zambia. Phase II adds 34.5 MW capacity, expanding the project’s total operational capacity to 59.5 MW. The total project capacity is expected to close at 118 MW. 
GRIPS Energy Group has secured growth equity investment from Fortis Green Renewables Investment Management and Zeitinger Invest GmbH. It will finance the acquisition of operational renewable energy assets in Senegal, Botswana, Zambia and Uganda. The commercial and industrial (C&I) solar and BESS projects developer will also expand distributed solar and solar-plus-storage projects with the equity investment. GRIPS aims to build a portfolio of over 100 MW of solar and storage assets by 2030.  
TaiyangNews 2024

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