Kunming, China | July 9, 2025 – Development Reimagined successfully hosted the third event in its “The Green Catalyst Series: Investing in Africa’s Sustainable Growth” in Kunming, Yunnan Province. Titled “Yunnan to Africa: Synergies for a Just Transition”, the dialogue convened representatives from African embassies in China, Chinese and African government bodies, enterprises, academic institutions, and think tanks to explore how Yunnan’s green development practices can inform and support Africa’s transition to a low-carbon, inclusive economy.
A Pivotal Moment for China-Africa Climate Cooperation
Opening the event, Ms. Yike Fu, Climate Program Manager at Development Reimagined, emphasized the significance of 2024 as a milestone year, with both the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the 2nd Africa Climate Summit scheduled for September. She underscored the urgency and opportunity for deepened collaboration in green industries.
Drawing on insights from Development Reimagined’s China-Africa Climate Action Tracker, Ms. Fu noted that China has supported 155 green projects across Africa, 65% of which are in clean energy, with a combined potential capacity exceeding 40 gigawatts (GW). With Africa aiming to achieve 300 GW of renewable capacity by 2030, Chinese technical expertise and investment are vital. She urged stakeholders to act quickly to align financing and implementation for Africa’s green transformation.
Africa’s Energy Ambitions: Voices from Namibia and Ethiopia
Mr. Nghihepavali Michael Hamukwaya, Second Secretary at the Embassy of Namibia in China, highlighted Namibia’s abundant solar resources and goal of achieving 80% energy self-sufficiency by 2028, alongside its aspirations to develop green hydrogen and drive a manufacturing-led transformation powered by its youthful workforce.
Mr. Mesfin Getachew, Second Secretary at the Ethiopian Embassy in China, outlined Ethiopia’s strategy to become East Africa’s renewable energy hub by 2030, expanding hydropower, solar, and geothermal capacity. He welcomed further Chinese investment, noting over 2,000 Chinese enterprises already operating in Ethiopia.
Mr. Mekonnen Hailu, Director at the Ethiopian Investment Commission, stressed the government’s prioritization of renewable energy and detailed a suite of investment-friendly policies, including public-private partnerships, tax incentives, and one-stop services designed to support global investors in green sectors.
Yunnan’s Experience, Africa’s Potential
Based on recent fieldwork in Southern Africa, Ms. Yunong Wu, Climate Action Specialist at Development Reimagined, highlighted the severe energy access gaps in the region and the growing role of innovative finance and cross-border electricity trade in closing them.
She shared case studies of Chinese enterprises in Africa deploying a range of green solutions—from utility-scale power plants and off-grid systems to localized manufacturing of solar infrastructure and electric vehicles. These efforts not only reduce costs but also create local jobs and build capacity for green industrialization.
Drawing parallels between Yunnan and African countries like Ethiopia and Namibia—particularly in terms of geography, climate, and renewable resource potential—Ms. Wu pointed to replicable Yunnan models such as “solar-agriculture integration” and centralized solar farms as inspiration for Africa. She proposed opportunities for “solar+” projects in Namibia’s deserts and collaborative use of Ethiopia’s hydropower and wind assets to drive regional electricity trade.
Roundtable Dialogue: From Ideas to Implementation
A vibrant roundtable brought together Chinese and African experts from academia, industry, and government to exchange practical strategies on deepening cooperation, scaling technology transfer, and financing green transitions.
Dr. Huabin Wang, Associate Professor at Yunnan Normal University, introduced the “Zero-Carbon Villages” initiative—an integrated model combining solar, wind, biomass, and storage to eliminate agricultural waste and emissions. He highlighted the applicability of Yunnan’s agri-energy synergies to African rural development.
Dr. Bingcai Liu, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Central University of Finance and Economics, discussed China’s evolving green finance models, including project bundling to reduce risks for small-scale clean energy ventures. He cited examples such as Kenya’s off-grid solar projects backed by public-private partnerships (PPPs).
Dr. OUEDRAOGO NABONSWENDE AIDA NADEGE, African Special Advisor to the Chongqing Renewable Energy Committee, emphasized the need for localized technology adoption and green skills training in Africa. She noted the transformative potential of clean cooking and solar water pumping solutions in improving health and livelihoods.
Scaling Green Investment and Bilateral Cooperation
In her closing remarks, Ms. Hannah Ryder, Founder and CEO of Development Reimagined, called for continued momentum in implementing FOCAC’s green development agenda. She encouraged partners to collaborate on 30 clean energy projects across Africa, leveraging lessons from Yunnan’s green transformation as a model for Africa’s energy-driven industrial upgrading.
Ms. Ryder announced that the Green Catalyst Series would continue, serving as a platform to foster public-private dialogue, cross-border collaboration, and policy innovation. She invited Chinese and African enterprises to join a closed-door seminar with African ambassadors in Beijing and to engage with Development Reimagined at the Africa Climate Summit in Ethiopia this September.
Field Visit: Exploring Localized “Solar-Plus” Pathways for Africa
As part of the event, participants conducted a site visit to Dongfang Electric’s 200 MW agro-photovoltaic project in Luquan County, Kunming—currently the largest high-altitude agro-PV project under construction in China, and the largest photovoltaic installation in Yunnan Province to date. Spanning approximately 3,800 mu (about 253 hectares), the project has a DC-side installed capacity of 240 MW and a total investment of 800 million RMB (approx. USD 110 million). Utilizing a “solar-above, farming-below” model, the project integrates electricity generation with agricultural production, balancing energy efficiency with rural livelihoods to achieve economic, ecological, and social co-benefits.
During the visit, delegates learned about the project’s topography, rural context, and business model, and held in-depth discussions on the feasibility of applying similar approaches across African countries. The management team from Dongfang Electric Solar shared their experience overcoming technical challenges such as complex mountainous terrain and optimizing PV-agriculture integration. They also showcased the use of advanced construction methods, including drone-assisted installation and multi-platform lightweight 3D modeling.
Participants agreed that these innovations could serve as valuable references for combining clean energy deployment with agricultural development in Africa, supporting locally adapted “solar-plus” models that deliver climate resilience, energy access, and inclusive rural growth.
For media and partnership inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Yike Fu
Climate Program Manager, Development Reimagined，
