The Biden-Harris administration signed a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) at the virtual Leaders Summit on Climate for a 2-5 GW Mega Solar project in Botswana and Namibia. The summit, which took place in April, convened world leaders to galvanize efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C.The Mega Solar partnership between Namibia and Botswana is expected to generate up to 5 GW of solar power. The project is part of the United States Agency for International Development’s Power Africa Initiative, committed to assisting the southern African region’s transition from reliance on fossil fuels to clean energy; enabling the path to decarbonization as well as strengthening institutional and technical frameworks of focal countries.Power Africa has connected more than 20.8 million homes and businesses to on- and off-grid solutions ­– generating first-time access to electricity for 98 million people across the region ­– and is uniquely positioned to advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s objectives to support economic growth and decarbonization in a region critical to fighting climate change.Namibian Mines and Energy Minister, Tom Alweedo, said that power produced by the project will be exported to the southern African region through the Southern African Power Pool. The goal is to provide additional power using both photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies to cater to local demand in sub-Saharan countries.

Source: Further Africa