Pan-African renewable energy developer Axian Energy has recorded progress on 195MW of projects recently in East and West Africa in its bid to achieve 1GW of installed renewable capacity by 2030.

In mid-April, the developer selected France’s Voltalia and Entech to undertake the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the 60MW NEA Kolda solar photovoltaic (PV) project, located in southern Senegal.

Construction is planned to begin in May on the scheme, which will include a 90MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) and will be connected to the national grid.

The project will supply power to nearly 300,000 people and is said to be the largest of its kind in West Africa. It is being developed by Axian Energy subsidiary New Energy Africa (NEA)’s Senegal division.

Voltalia will provide the PV panels for the scheme and Entech the BESS, which will provide electricity for up to three consecutive hours during evening peak demand. NEA Senegal will lead and coordinate all phases of the development, construction and commissioning of the project.

Commissioning of the plant is scheduled for 2026. On completion, the project will provide essential grid stabilisation and ancillary services to Senegal’s national electricity company Senelec.

The Kolda project is being supported with €84 million (US$95.2 million) in funding by the Emerging Africa and Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF), Dutch development bank FMO and German development finance institution DEG.

Over in East Africa, Axian Energy has recorded progress on Madagascar’s 120MW Volobe hydropower project, which it is co-developing with infrastructure investment platform Africa50.

On 23 April, the developer signed an updated shareholders’ agreement for the US$594 million scheme, with France EDF joining the shareholder consortium for the project’s special purpose vehicle Volobe General Hydroelectric Company (CGHV).

The call for tenders for the construction of the plant is set to be issued shortly. In late October 2024, CGHV invited firms to express interest in taking part in the prequalification for the project’s works, divided into three packages – civil, electromechanical and transmission line. The deadline for submissions was 29 November 2024.

Meanwhile, in February, NEA’s Madagascar division signed a protocol agreement with Madagascar’s state utility Jirama for the expansion of the 40MW Anbatolampy solar plant, which includes a 5MWh BESS. The facility is located in the country’s centre and is said to be the largest such facility in the Indian Ocean. The plant’s capacity will be expanded by 15MW and the BESS to 45MWh.