Nigeria is aiming for a significant shift in its energy landscape, with the Rural Electrification Agency projecting that Nigeria solar power goals will result in solar accounting for 50 per cent of the power generation mix by 2029. Speaking at the recently concluded 25th Nigerian Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week in Abuja, the managing director of the agency, Mr Abba Abubakar Aliyu, highlighted that solar’s contribution to the national generation has already seen a dramatic rise, currently sitting at approximately 20 per cent. This growth in national generation is attributed to the acceleration of private-sector partnerships and sustained deployment efforts across the country. During an energy panel titled Re-Engineering Africa’s Power Market – Driving Reliable Energy Systems, Mr Aliyu noted that if the current momentum and private-sector partnerships are maintained, the nation could reach the halfway mark in its electricity supply mix within the next three years.

Expansion of Local Manufacturing and Regional Supply

The expansion of the sector is not limited to power production alone, as Nigeria transitions from being a consumer to a regional provider of renewable technology. Mr Aliyu informed delegates that manufacturing companies within the Lagos–Sagamu industrial corridor are actively scaling up to meet the growing demand across the West African region. This industrial corridor is already seeing the export of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to neighboring nations, supported by a development pipeline of 3.7 gigawatts in PV manufacturing capacity. The emergence of these manufacturing companies signifies a broader industrial shift, as the agency chief pointed out: “If you go to the Lagos–Sagamu axis, you will see manufacturing companies coming up.”

Grid Stability and Dual-Track Investment Strategies

Despite the rapid advancements in Nigeria solar power goals, the managing director clarified that the transition would not immediately replace existing infrastructure. He emphasized that conventional gas-fired thermal plants remain necessary for maintaining the stability of the national electricity grid. Consequently, he and other industry experts advocated for a dual-track investment strategy. This approach focuses on the continued expansion of solar energy systems while simultaneously upgrading and maintaining gas-fired facilities to ensure a reliable power supply. By integrating these diverse energy systems, Nigeria aims to balance its renewable technology ambitions with the practical requirements of grid reliability and domestic industrial growth.

Technical Specifications and Environmental Impact

The facility features roughly 22,000 solar panels secured to 400 engineered platforms. These systems are designed to remain stable despite water level fluctuations of up to 44 meters and depths reaching 79 meters. Beyond electricity generation, the installation serves a critical role in water conservation by reducing surface evaporation by an estimated 30 percent. This is vital for the reservoir, which typically loses between 3,000 and 7,000 cubic meters of water daily. The project effectively demonstrates how renewable energy can address both power needs and resource scarcity through innovative engineering and strategic placement.

With the completion of this project, Morocco has more than doubled the total operational floating solar capacity in Africa, which previously stood at 6.22 MWp. This development aligns with the national target to derive 52 percent of installed electricity capacity from renewable energy sources by 2030. While Africa currently has a development pipeline of 2.3 GWp for similar projects, research indicates a theoretical potential of 100 GW across the continent’s artificial reservoirs. The Oued Rmel floating solar plant serves as a model for future clean power initiatives, emphasizing resource management and long-term sustainability. This expansion of infrastructure and capacity highlights the continent’s commitment to sustainability through advanced photovoltaic technology.

Regulatory Compliance and Project Specifications

According to the regulator, these four initiatives represent a combined installed renewable energy capacity exceeding 1GW, which is expected to provide 890MW of contracted generation capacity to the national electricity system. NERSA confirmed that the application process began in January, followed by a formal public consultation period. Although a public hearing was originally slated for May, it was ultimately cancelled because no formal objections or registrations were submitted by the public or stakeholders. Consequently, NERSA determined that all four projects successfully satisfied the necessary technical, financial, economic, legal, and regulatory requirements. These latest solar PV licenses contribute to a growing pipeline of projects within the REIPPPP Bid Window 7, which has seen expansion through various allocations since the initial preferred bidders were named in late 2024.

Strategic Impact on National Energy Goals

With these recent approvals, the seventh bidding round has now secured nearly 5GW of solar capacity. The REIPPPP was established in 2011 as a strategic framework to draw private investment into the South African renewable energy sector and facilitate the growth of new generation capacity. This initiative is designed to mitigate the country’s persistent power supply issues, such as grid constraints and load shedding, which stem from a lack of sufficient electricity production. Data from the Global Solar Council indicates that the total solar PV capacity in South Africa reached approximately 6.3GW after the addition of 1.6GW in 2025. Currently, distributed and commercial & industrial (C&I) solar installations represent more than 59% of the total installed capacity. The nation maintains a long-term goal of reaching 20GW of solar PV capacity by the year 2030. The regulator noted that the absence of objections during the public consultation allowed for a streamlined approval process for the preferred bidders as they work to address ongoing grid constraints.

Surging Demand and Infrastructure Growth

Despite a broader shift in the global supply chain, the Philippines recorded a 145% year-on-year increase in imports, with the majority of equipment arriving from China. Adrian Sabatera, a software engineer who recently invested 570,000 pesos in a rooftop system, observed, “I wouldn’t be shocked if a third of the middle-class population eventually finds their way to this setup.” This transition is helping many families significantly reduce their monthly bills. Local installers, such as Philergy German Solar, reported a massive spike in interest, at one point fielding 3,000 inquiries in a single day. Managing partner Jochen Staudter noted that “Demand will continue to be driven by high electricity prices.” Market analysts now project substantial capacity growth, suggesting that the Philippines solar market could see its distributed capacity triple to 3,500 megawatts within the next two years.

Economic Barriers and Future Outlook

The rapid expansion of the Philippines solar market is supported by shrinking payback periods, which have dropped from four years to 3.1 years. However, significant hurdles remain for widespread adoption. Solar currently accounts for less than 4% of total national energy consumption, and a weakening currency has exacerbated the cost of imported fuels used for traditional power generation. Brenda Valerio of New Energy Nexus highlighted that a volatile supply chain and equipment hoarding have occasionally delayed installations. Furthermore, while the government offers 5% interest loans, these programs often exclude private-sector workers, making the upfront cost prohibitive as it frequently exceeds the average annual household income. As the nation continues to monitor its trade statistics and energy security, the push to lower monthly bills remains a primary driver for capacity growth. Alnie Demoral, an analyst at Ember, concluded, “The opportunity is real, but the upfront cost is often too high for a household or business, no matter how quick the payback time is.”

Meeting Zero-Energy Building Standards Through Innovation

The demand for renewable energy solutions that integrate into building structures is rising alongside Green Building Certification and RE100 commitments. In urban areas with limited land and rooftop space, building facades, shading systems, and perimeter walls are becoming essential for solar power generation. The LONGi BRIGHT solution serves as both a construction material and an electricity generator, available in various colors and dimensions to replace traditional roofing and facade materials. This technology has already been utilized in major projects, such as the renovation of the Beijing Workers’ Stadium and installations at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center, demonstrating compliance with building standards while delivering high performance.

Technical Integration and Market Development

SG Energy will provide local expertise in project development and construction delivery to complement LONGi’s technology. According to the companies, “SG Energy’s local market capabilities complement LONGi’s advanced BIPV technology, enabling the partnership to deliver customized solutions tailored to Korean building requirements.” The agreement was signed by Bai Zhongxue, Assistant to the Chairman and President of LONGi’s Building PV System Business Unit, and Justin Lee, CEO of SG Energy, following discussions initiated by Zhao Bin, President of LONGi East Asia and Southeast Asia. The companies plan to accelerate Korean Standards (KS) certification and establish a sales network for commercial and public infrastructure. This strategic cooperation aims to foster long-term growth in the Korean BIPV Market by providing customized solutions that help developers achieve a zero-energy building status while maximizing solar power generation through efficient renewable energy use on building facades. Beyond deployment, the collaboration will include technical services and market development initiatives to support the architecture and construction sectors.

The financing structure includes support from the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), with the EBRD benefiting from a first-loss guarantee and the EIB receiving backing through the Connectivity Component of the EFSD+ Open Architecture Guarantee Agreement. In addition, €5.5 million in grant funding from the EU’s Neighbourhood Investment Platform (NIP) will help finance associated transmission infrastructure. This contribution forms part of a wider €35.8 million EU Global Gateway package aimed at accelerating renewable energy investment in Tunisia. The development is linked to Tunisia’s 1.7 GW renewable energy concession programme launched in 2022, which supports the country’s goal of sourcing 35 per cent of its energy from renewables by 2030.

Harry Boyd-Carpenter, Managing Director of the EBRD’s Sustainable Infrastructure Group, said: “We are delighted to be partnering once again with Scatec and Aeolus, two of the most dynamic and rigorous investors in this sector, to finance this important project. This is also a great Team Europe effort, where we are partnering with our co-lender, the EIB, and benefiting from generous donor support from the European Union to support the development of clean and very low-cost energy in Tunisia. These benefits are even more important in the current circumstances, where we are seeing challenges to energy security. The success of this project is also a tribute to the Tunisian government’s determined efforts to push forward with an ambitious energy reform and transition agenda.” EIB Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris stated: “This project marks an important step in supporting Tunisia’s efforts to deliver affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to its citizens, in line with the country’s national objectives. Through EIB Global and the Team Europe approach, we are working with our partners to scale up renewable energy investment and strengthen the infrastructure needed for a more secure and resilient energy system.” Giuseppe Perrone, EU Ambassador to Tunisia, added: “In the spirit of the EU-Tunisia memorandum of understanding on energy of June 2024, the European Union is taking concrete action in the renewable energy sector to ensure Tunisia’s energy security and decarbonisation, in line with the T MED programme launched by Commissioner Suica on 9 June 2026 during European Sustainable Energy Week.”

Alongside financing, the project will receive technical cooperation support from the EBRD’s Shareholder Special Fund. Programmes will focus on workforce capacity building in the Sidi Bouzid and Gabès regions to address emerging skills needs in Tunisia’s energy sector. Community initiatives in Khobna and Mezzouna will also promote awareness of gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) and care-related benefits, with the aim of encouraging greater female participation in the workforce. Established in June 2021, EFSD+ provides grants and guarantees to mobilise investment across partner countries and has a global guarantee capacity of €39.8 billion for the 2021–2027 period, including €22.5 billion dedicated to enlargement and neighbourhood regions. Since 2012, the EBRD has invested more than €3 billion in Tunisia through 90 projects while supporting nearly 2,000 local small and medium-sized enterprises through EU-funded technical assistance programmes. The Tunisia Solar Project Expansion further strengthens cooperation between European institutions and Tunisia in advancing renewable energy and decarbonisation objectives.

All four projects are currently in the development stage. The first among them are expected to reach ready-to-build status in 2028, contingent upon obtaining all necessary permits. Should the entire portfolio be fully developed and constructed, it is projected to represent an investment volume exceeding €700 million. Once operational, the projects are expected to deliver approximately 900 GWh of renewable electricity annually to the Norwegian power system, bolstering renewable generation capacity within the NO1 price area. The sheer scale of this solar storage partnership underscores both parties’ commitment to advancing clean energy infrastructure across the Nordic region.

Through this expanded collaboration, Landinfra and Eiffel intend to combine their complementary strengths. Landinfra brings deep project origination and development capabilities across the Nordics, while Eiffel contributes its extensive track record in financing and supporting renewable energy infrastructure development throughout Europe. The partnership leverages these combined resources to address growing demand for new sources of renewable energy in Norway.

Marcus Landelin, CEO and Co-Founder of Landinfra, commented: “We are pleased to expand our partnership with Eiffel to include a portfolio of large scale solar power projects with co-located battery energy storage in Norway. Eiffel is a leading European asset manager with extensive experience from development partnerships and infrastructure financing. Together, we bring the capabilities, experience, and financial strength required to develop new and much-needed renewable electricity generation in NO1.”

Laurent Coubret, Investment Director and Fund Manager at Eiffel, added: “Norway represents a compelling opportunity for renewable energy development, and this portfolio is a strong addition to our growing Nordic presence. We are delighted to deepen our partnership with Landinfra, which has proven being an ideal partner in the Nordics. Expanding our collaboration with them into Norway is a natural next step. This transaction reflects Eiffel’s conviction in the long-term value of utility scale solar and battery storage across Europe, and our commitment to supporting the energy transition with both capital and operational know-how.”

The agreement positions both Landinfra and Eiffel as key contributors to Norway’s evolving renewable energy landscape. With nearly 900 GWh of projected annual clean electricity output, the portfolio would make a meaningful contribution to the country’s solar power capacity. The focus on co-located battery storage also reflects a broader industry trend toward pairing generation assets with storage solutions to enhance grid stability and energy dispatch flexibility. As the energy transition gains momentum across Europe, this expanded Nordic partnership between Landinfra and Eiffel signals a strong and growing appetite for utility scale solar and battery storage development in the region.

The Rabbit’s Foot Solar installation, situated in Bowie County, Texas, commenced on-site construction during the early part of this year. Upon completion, projected for the end of 2027, the project will serve as a critical component in Meta’s broader commitment to align its operational energy requirements with 100% clean energy sources. The facility’s generation capacity will directly contribute to this sustainability milestone for the technology company.

The Meta and RWE Solar partnership has already materialized through several significant projects. Previously executed agreements encompass the 274-MW Emily Solar project in Illinois, the 100-MW Lafitte Solar initiative in Louisiana, and the 200-MW Waterloo Solar facility in Texas. These three projects collectively represent 574 MW of generation capacity. With the addition of Rabbit’s Foot Solar, the cumulative portfolio now spans 872 MW across all signed agreements over the previous two years, demonstrating sustained commitment from both organizations toward renewable energy expansion.

Ingmar Ritzenhofen, chief commercial officer for RWE Americas, provided insight into the partnership’s significance: “Our partnership with Meta continues to grow as we work together to deliver reliable power that supports their energy commitments. This agreement for the Rabbit’s Foot Solar project demonstrates how collaboration can drive meaningful economic growth and community benefits. By investing in Bowie County, we’re not only creating approximately 200 local construction jobs, but also generating substantial long-term tax revenue that will help support schools, technical education programs, emergency services, and critical road maintenance and infrastructure improvements across the community.”

The corporate power purchase agreement structure allows both organizations to achieve complementary objectives. For Meta, the renewable energy infrastructure supports long-term sustainability targets and operational efficiency. For RWE, such agreements enable predictable revenue streams and capacity planning across its generation portfolio.

Amanda Yang, head of Clean and Renewable Energy for Meta, outlined the company’s perspective on the expanded partnership: “Through our continued partnership with RWE, the Rabbit’s Foot Solar project will bring new generation to the Texas grid while creating local jobs and delivering lasting economic benefits to Bowie County. We’re proud to deepen our collaboration with RWE with our expanded portfolio.”

RWE operates as a substantial power generation operator throughout the United States, currently maintaining 13 GW of generation capacity across installations in 27 states. The renewable energy developer has articulated ambitious growth plans, targeting an additional 9 GW of net new capacity additions by 2031. This expansion roadmap positions RWE to meet growing demand from technology companies and other corporate entities pursuing clean energy solutions through corporate power purchase agreements and similar mechanisms.

The Rabbit’s Foot Solar facility represents a continuation of this strategic expansion while simultaneously fulfilling Meta’s clean energy commitments through the ongoing Meta and RWE Solar partnership. The project’s anticipated completion by year-end 2027 aligns with both organizations’ longer-term operational and sustainability objectives.

The renewable energy assets include 13 operational wind farms with a combined capacity of 402MW alongside six photovoltaic solar parks delivering 303MW. Beyond the existing operational infrastructure, the agreement encompasses potential for over 565MW of additional capacity through hybridisation initiatives involving future wind, solar, and battery storage installations. Representatives from both organizations finalized the agreement in Abu Dhabi, with Masdar Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi and Repsol’s low-carbon generation executive managing director João Costeira signing the transaction.

The transaction is expected to reach completion by the end of 2026, contingent upon standard regulatory approvals. This Masdar acquires renewable energy assets through what represents the company’s eighth major renewables transaction within its strategic expansion framework. The transaction brings Repsol’s total renewable capacity rotated across Spain and the United States to 3.85GW, with the company currently maintaining 6GW of renewable generation in operation.

Repsol utilized syndicated financing arranged in December 2025 to support the portfolio, securing €550 million through leading financial institutions including Abanca Corporación Bancaria, Banco Sabadell, BNP Paribas, CaixaBank, Spain’s Instituto de Crédito Oficial, and UniCredit Bank. According to João Costeira, “This agreement marks another step forward in our strategy to maximise profitability, enabling us to bring in a leading global partner in the renewable energy sector, while further strengthening the value of our high-quality asset portfolio.”

For Repsol, this transaction forms part of a broader asset rotation strategy within its renewables division designed to enhance financial efficiency, facilitate development with strategic partners, and strategically diversify its renewable energy holdings. The approach reflects the company’s commitment to optimizing its renewable energy portfolio while maintaining operational excellence across existing assets.

Masdar’s acquisition directly supports its ambitious objective to increase renewable energy holdings in strategic markets while advancing toward 100GW of worldwide operational capacity by 2030. Upon completion of the transaction, Masdar will maintain 4.1GW of renewable capacity in operation across the Iberian Peninsula, with approximately 1GW currently under development. Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi stated: “Spain is one of Europe’s fastest-growing major economies, and renewable energy is playing a critical role in powering that growth. This transaction strengthens Masdar’s portfolio, while deepening our support for Spain’s economic ambitions. We look forward to investing in the growth of these assets, and to building on our strong partnership with Repsol.”

The transaction underscores Masdar’s strategic positioning within European renewable energy markets and reflects broader trends of international investment in Spain’s clean energy infrastructure expansion.

Presenting the national budget in parliament on Thursday, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said the government would also eliminate import duty, regulatory duty, supplementary duty and advance tax on a range of essential solar energy components. Under the new notification, products eligible for the exemptions include solar inverters, battery pack housing, lithium cells, lithium-ion batteries, solar photovoltaic modules and panels, mounting structures, battery energy storage systems (BESS), battery management systems, UV-protected solar DC cables and battery thermal management systems. “Through the gradual expansion of solar, wind and other clean energy sources, the foundations of a low-carbon economy will be established,” the minister said.

The minister further stated that investors would continue to receive support and incentives for local manufacturing of renewable energy equipment, including solar panels, wind power components and battery systems. Industry participants have welcomed the announcement, viewing it as a significant step toward expanding renewable energy investment and domestic clean energy production. Mostafa Al Mahmud, president of the Bangladesh Sustainable and Renewable Energy Association (BSREA), said the measures reflect the government’s commitment to the sector. “There is no alternative to clean energy for sustainable development,” he said. He added that sustained policy backing would enable industries to generate their own electricity while encouraging wider adoption of rooftop solar systems among households.

Bangladesh currently has an installed renewable energy generation capacity of 1,797 MW. Of that total, solar power accounts for 1,504 MW, underscoring the technology’s dominant role in the country’s renewable energy portfolio. The latest Solar Power Incentives package is expected to further support the expansion of solar capacity as Bangladesh advances its long-term clean energy objectives.