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The GreenCape Market Intelligence Report 2024 focuses on investment opportunities in South Africa's energy services market, specifically rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) installations and behind-the-meter (BTM) lithium-ion energy storage. The report details the drivers of growth, such as rising electricity costs and loadshedding, as well as barriers including skilled labor shortages and port inefficiencies.

This report by Ember analyses Chinese customs data from the first half of 2023, detailing a 34% increase in solar module exports. It highlights that while global manufacturing capacity is sufficient to meet 1.5C climate pathways, bottlenecks in installation and grid integration are leading to an accumulation of solar panel stocks in warehouses, particularly in Europe.

This report assesses the potential for renewable energy manufacturing in Southeast Asia, specifically focusing on solar photovoltaic (PV), batteries, and electric two-wheelers, to support decarbonization and economic growth.

This report examines the use of risk mitigation and transfer (RMT) instruments to enable utility-scale renewable energy investments in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). Through case studies in Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zambia, the authors analyze how financial instruments from development finance institutions (DFIs) help projects reach financial close by addressing offtaker, political, and currency risks. While RMTs have successfully protected existing projects during recent economic shocks, the report finds they are currently insufficient to enable new projects in countries facing severe debt distress, such as Zambia.

This background paper examines the current state of agrivoltaics in India, focusing on the simultaneous use of land for agriculture and photovoltaic power generation to resolve land-use competition. It synthesizes evidence from over a dozen pilot projects and interviews with stakeholders—including farmers, private developers, and power distribution companies—to provide policy recommendations, business models, and technical transition mechanisms for commercial scale-up.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of the Life After Coal Campaign, submitted a formal objection to the South African government regarding Eskom's proposal to use temporary bypass stacks at the Kusile coal-fired power station. This proposal would allow units 1-3 to operate without flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) pollution abatement equipment following a flue duct collapse in October 2022. The CER argues that the bypass would cause significant health damage and constitutional violations, suggesting instead that funds be redirected toward solar PV and wind energy to accelerate the coal phase-out.

This case study describes the Luz en Casa Amazonia Microgrid Pilot Project in Copal Urco, Peru, implemented by the acciona.org Foundation. The project replaced a limited diesel-fed system with a solar PV microgrid to provide more reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to a rural community in the Amazonian rainforest.

This fact sheet by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) audits the August 2022 draft of the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM). It evaluates the draft against labour recommendations, arguing that the current plan lacks sufficient detail on decent work, public ownership, and aggressive localisation. The IEJ proposes a series of demands for final negotiations to ensure the energy transition supports employment creation, local manufacturing, and a proactive recycling industry.

A case study on the installation of two 13.5 kWp solar mini-grids in Kyamugarura and Kanyegaramire, Uganda, by the University of Southampton's Energy for Development (e4D) Programme. The project provided electricity to over 144 businesses, two health centres, and two schools starting in 2015, though rapid demand growth eventually exceeded design capacity, leading to planned upgrades.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the renewable energy landscapes of Egypt and Morocco within the broader context of North Africa. It details the region's high technical potential for solar and wind, the current dominance of fossil fuels (gas in Egypt and coal in Morocco), and the strategic shifts toward renewable energy and green hydrogen to enhance energy security and export potential.

This research paper analyzes the Indonesian government's plan to replace 3.4GW of coal-based power generation at Suralaya with grid-connected solar PV capacity in the Java-Bali grid, evaluating the potential impacts on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and identifying necessary policy and international support mechanisms.

This project update from RMI describes the performance of Nigeria's first commercial undergrid minigrid in Mokoloki, Ogun State. Launched in February 2020 through a tripartite partnership between the Mokoloki community, Nayo Tropical Technology, and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), the project provides reliable solar power to a community that previously had unreliable grid access. The report highlights the project's financial viability, technical stability, and its role in stimulating local economic growth.

CrossBoundary Energy is implementing a hybrid-renewable energy grid for a mine in Fort Dauphin, Madagascar, to replace unreliable heavy fuel oil (HFO) power. The project includes 8 MW of solar PV, 12 MW of wind turbines, and an 8 MW battery storage system (BESS), financed by EUR 24,152,505 in equity.

This case study describes the May 2020 installation of a high-capacity energy storage system in a private residence in Eagle Bay, Western Australia, designed to provide off-grid reliability in an area with an unstable power grid.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how trade policy, specifically tariffs, can be used by developing countries to balance the goal of maximizing local economic benefits from clean energy investments with the need to minimize project costs. It analyzes the bill of materials for wind and solar projects to identify which components are suited for local production and evaluates the trade profiles of several countries to provide a framework for aligning trade and energy policies.

This policy briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines energy policy developments in Indonesia as of February 2021, focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on macroeconomic indicators, fuel subsidies, the coal sector, and renewable energy progress.

This 2021 GreenCape briefing details the financing landscape for rooftop solar PV in South Africa's commercial and industrial sectors. Driven by rising Eskom tariffs and load shedding, the market has seen significant growth, supported by traditional bank loans, innovative models like PPAs and crowdfunding, and tax incentives such as accelerated depreciation.

This 2021 industry brief by GreenCape examines the regulatory requirements for Small Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) in South Africa, specifically the distinction between registration with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) and applications for connection with electricity distributors.

A case study on a decentralized renewable energy project by Ryse Energy in the Los Lagos region of Chile, which installed hybrid wind and solar mini-grids across 16 remote islands to power critical infrastructure.

This case study describes the installation of a 14.4 kWp solar PV off-grid connect system at Orotta Hospital in Eritrea, developed by Phaesun GmbH and funded by the NGO Archemed. The system was designed to provide a reliable power supply for pediatric cardiac surgery and neonatology wards, mitigating the impact of frequent power cuts and unreliable diesel generators. Operational since December 2014, the system integrates solar PV, battery storage, and existing grid/diesel backups to ensure uninterruptible power for critical medical services.