Ian Muir
@offgridian.bsky.social
Energy & climate specialist passionate about sustainable energy in LMICs→tech + business models + financing for off-grid solar, mini-grids, clean cooking, and PUE. Head of Insights @ Catalyst Energy Advisors, Fellow @ Energy for Growth Hub. TCD+SAIS alum.
Reposted by Ian Muir
Africa's solar revolution is accelerating💫🌍
The latest data shows in the last 2 quarters, many countries are importing more solar panels, including:
☀️Algeria 400MW during Q1-2025
☀️Nigeria 400MW
☀️Kenya 100MW
☀️Chad 100MW
The latest data shows in the last 2 quarters, many countries are importing more solar panels, including:
☀️Algeria 400MW during Q1-2025
☀️Nigeria 400MW
☀️Kenya 100MW
☀️Chad 100MW
May 8, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Africa's solar revolution is accelerating💫🌍
The latest data shows in the last 2 quarters, many countries are importing more solar panels, including:
☀️Algeria 400MW during Q1-2025
☀️Nigeria 400MW
☀️Kenya 100MW
☀️Chad 100MW
The latest data shows in the last 2 quarters, many countries are importing more solar panels, including:
☀️Algeria 400MW during Q1-2025
☀️Nigeria 400MW
☀️Kenya 100MW
☀️Chad 100MW
Any piece shedding light on the challenges of bringing electricity to rural Africans is welcome. This one from @nytimes.com on the ‘Mission 300’ initiative offers insights but rehashes a tired trope: that standalone solar systems cannot meet the basic energy needs of households and small businesses.
A $35 Billion Loan Project, Led by World Bank, Aims to Expand Electricity in Africa
Some $35 billion is aimed at building small solar sites in rural areas and other improvements. The World Bank chief called the project “foundational to everything.”
www.nytimes.com
January 27, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Any piece shedding light on the challenges of bringing electricity to rural Africans is welcome. This one from @nytimes.com on the ‘Mission 300’ initiative offers insights but rehashes a tired trope: that standalone solar systems cannot meet the basic energy needs of households and small businesses.
Yesterday, we learned of plans for a new 24-hour solar plant in the UAE. Featuring 5 GW of solar and 19 GWh of batteries, the facility is expected to consistently deliver 1 GW of 'baseload' power.
www.reuters.com/business/ene...
www.reuters.com/business/ene...
UAE's Masdar launches facility to produce 1GW of uninterrupted renewable energy
UAE state-owned renewables firm Masdar has launched a renewable energy facility that will produce 1 gigawatt of uninterrupted clean power and that is expected to cost around $6 billion, company executives said on Tuesday.
www.reuters.com
January 15, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Yesterday, we learned of plans for a new 24-hour solar plant in the UAE. Featuring 5 GW of solar and 19 GWh of batteries, the facility is expected to consistently deliver 1 GW of 'baseload' power.
www.reuters.com/business/ene...
www.reuters.com/business/ene...
Enjoyed this thought-provoking piece on energy tech leapfrogging from @mthurber.bsky.social. Applying his framework to productive use tech (ecooking, emobility, solar irrigation, etc) suggests high potential albeit with some questions about avoided infrastructure.
energyforgrowth.org/article/asse...
energyforgrowth.org/article/asse...
Assessing Energy Technology Leapfrogs - Energy for Growth Hub
energyforgrowth.org
January 9, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Enjoyed this thought-provoking piece on energy tech leapfrogging from @mthurber.bsky.social. Applying his framework to productive use tech (ecooking, emobility, solar irrigation, etc) suggests high potential albeit with some questions about avoided infrastructure.
energyforgrowth.org/article/asse...
energyforgrowth.org/article/asse...
With China recently getting BESS bids at an average of $66.3 per kWh deployed... one has to wonder how close we are to having nearly fully dispatchable solar+storage plants in Sub-Saharan Africa with LCOEs under $100 per MWh. Has anyone done the math?
January 7, 2025 at 11:08 PM
With China recently getting BESS bids at an average of $66.3 per kWh deployed... one has to wonder how close we are to having nearly fully dispatchable solar+storage plants in Sub-Saharan Africa with LCOEs under $100 per MWh. Has anyone done the math?
Love this new(ish) chart from RMI's 'Powering Up the Global South' report showing that solar PV is now cheaper than coal on a CAPEX per MWh/year basis in key markets—even before accounting for fuel costs and O&M!
December 17, 2024 at 8:20 PM
Love this new(ish) chart from RMI's 'Powering Up the Global South' report showing that solar PV is now cheaper than coal on a CAPEX per MWh/year basis in key markets—even before accounting for fuel costs and O&M!
Enjoyed today's @nytimes.com piece re the role of fossil fuels in powering growth in developing countries. In my experience, industry experts hold more nuanced views than reflected in the article—most acknowledge FFs continue to play key roles but risk soon being eclipsed by more cost-effective RE.
December 12, 2024 at 10:52 PM
Enjoyed today's @nytimes.com piece re the role of fossil fuels in powering growth in developing countries. In my experience, industry experts hold more nuanced views than reflected in the article—most acknowledge FFs continue to play key roles but risk soon being eclipsed by more cost-effective RE.