INSIGHTS

We are excited to present our publication, "Green Hydrogen in Africa - A Focus on the Socio-Economic Case," which explores how Africa’s green hydrogen potential can ignite a new era of clean energy and provide a resilient, sustainable pathway for economic development. Last week, Namibia hosted the inaugural Global Africa Hydrogen Summit in Windhoek. The summit will unite global leaders in the hydrogen industry to accelerate progress in the emerging hydrogen value chain. Africa’s green hydrogen initiatives have the power to transform energy access, cut carbon emissions, and spur economic growth. Realising this potential demands swift action, coordinated efforts, significant investment, and supportive policies. The success of these projects, which have the potential to transform the energy landscape, hinges on effectively mobilising resources and stakeholders to overcome challenges such as infrastructure gaps, financial barriers, and regulatory complexities. We invite you to explore the publication and learn more. For more information, please email us at team@greencrowd.energy.

We are delighted to share our publication, "Geothermal in Zambia", which describes the Bweengwa River geothermal project we are involved with in Zambia. With its strong impact component, the project being developed offers a sustainable and reliable tri-energy (power, heat, and cold applications) solution. As the first geothermal project in Southern Africa, it's a potential game-changer, opening up a world of baseload power-dependent solutions and investment possibilities. We hope you find this story interesting and inspiring. Get in touch at team@greencrowd.energy to enquire about our geothermal project development services.

Nepal’s clean energy generation targets are tangible and ambitious. Nepal exported around 452 MW of hydropower to India on the Day-Ahead basis through the Indian Energy Exchange (NEA, 2023). The Himalayan nation aims to export 10,000 MW of power to India – its southern neighbour - within the next ten years. But things were quite different only seven years ago. By 2030, the country aims to expand clean energy generation from approximately 1,400 MW to 15,000 MW, of which 5-10 % will be generated from mini and micro-hydro power, solar, wind and bio-energy. This ambitious target is dependent upon the provision of funding by the international community (and yes, that means all the banks, asset managers, and insurance funds that form part of the OECD’s financial ecosystem). We hope you enjoy this publication. If you would like to discuss how you can get involved in Nepal’s energy and climate finance transition, please do not hesitate to get in touch: team@greencrowd.energy

Need a reason to invest in renewables in Jamaica? In preparation for moderating the panel "Promoting Investment in the Jamaican Renewable Energy Sector", where I had the pleasure of meeting Senator Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, I jotted down all the positives of investing in new Jamaican renewable energy generation on one side of A4 and ran out of room... + Abundance of natural energy resources (3,000 hours of sunshine a year, consistent coastal breeze, dozens of rivers) + Urgent need to reduce the country's dependence on imported fossil fuels (which make up nearly 90% of generation) and reduce electricity costs to consumers + Investor-friendly, no local restrictions on foreign ownership + Ratings Positive outlook underpinned by strong World Bank Governance Indicators, declining debt trajectory and a robust policy framework + Global openness to trade (CARICOM, CBREA, EPA) etc. + Forward-thinking government, implementing an integrated approach to climate-related FDI  + 50% target of generation from renewables (1.6 GW requirement) Plus you get to be in Jamaica..... Read our 2023 publication to find out about the renewable energy opportunities in Jamaica.

greenCrowd has been working intensively for Zambia’s power sector since December 2019. We view Zambia as a strategically crucial regional hub for the connection of the Southern African and East African power pools. We see that many opportunities across the energy value chain – generation, transmission and distribution - can be realised with the right approach to funding, stakeholder management and project management. As an energy and finance consultancy team, we want to excel across the power sector and contribute to a thriving Energy Supply Industry. After the introduction of the 2019 Electricity and Energy Regulation Acts and material changes to the commercial arrangements in the ESI, notably between ZESCO and the Copperbelt Energy Corporation Plc (“CEC”), we see immense opportunities for investment in new generation projects and sector participation which will have a profound and lasting impact within the country and the region. Developments in Zambia are fluid and dynamic and we see a concerted drive across the energy value chain to address historic and legacy issues. Our 2021 publication discusses recent developments and opportunities for investment and participation. It invites you to participate in a critical stage in Zambia’s energy sector transformation.

Southern Africa has abundant mineral resources, including gold, copper, uranium, cobalt, and many other metals, critical to developing the future sustainable energy system. Mining is of critical strategic importance, being one of the region's primary sources of foreign exchange. Mining amounted to 77% of Zambia’s total exports in 2019 and over 99% of those in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2017, according to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). In parallel, aggregate energy demands from all economic sectors within the Southern African region are set to increase from 400 terawatt hours (TWhs) per annum to 565 TWhs between 2017 levels and 2030 - an increase of 41%. Mining is forecast to account for approximately 18-25% of total demand. This growth comes against a background of constrained power provision, with South Africa notably forecast to have a deficit of 4GW, according to Eskom, through 2025. This 2022 publication explores the dynamics of mining and southern Africa and how the procurement of "green" power can go some way to complying with ESG and sustainability requirements.

Mitigating climate change requires a significant shift of electricity production from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Fossil fuels are non-renewable, drawing on finite resources that are environmentally damaging to extract with further socio-economic adverse effects and wasted foreign exchange. West Africa has for decades relied heavily on oil for electricity generation, leaving consumers exposed to multiple risks and drawbacks and remote communities without energy. Oil-based electricity generation is typically expensive and subject to price volatility, which can result in risky fuel hedging strategies that lock in prices for years to come. Whilst some countries, such as Nigeria, are oil & gas exporters, most West African countries are net importers. For example, Sierra Leone imports approximately 6 thousand barrels of refined petroleum products daily. These imports consume a significant percentage of gross national income and foreign exchange earnings, hampering economic growth. Our 2019 publication explores the decentralised renewable energy opportunities in West Africa.