Zambia selects Building Energy for two solar projects

Energy Wise Group Solar Power Installations

Zambia Government and KfW have selected Building Energy, an independent power producer in the renewable energy sector, as preferred bidder in the GET FiTtender to facilitate private sector investment for two solar projects.

Building Energy will develop the two-20MWac solar projects in Bulemu, located in Kabwe District (Central Province) which, once completed, will generate 50GWh each per year.

GET FiT program is a partnership between the Zambian Ministry of Energy and the German Development Bank, KfW, implemented by the GET FiT Secretariat in order to develop small and medium-scale Renewable Energy Independent Power Projects (IPPs) in Zambia.

This is the largest single Solar PV tender implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa outside of South Africa, and represents the first phase of implementing the Government of the Republic of Zambia’s REFiT strategy, launched in 2017.

Renewable energy sources are abundant in Zambia. Hydropower is the major contributor to Zambia’s electricity supply with 2,380 MW. Zambia Government has a need to diversify its energy generation mix to reduce its dependence on hydroelectricity, which has experienced major issues due to the draught.

Building Energy proposed the tariff of 3.99 USc/Kwh and it is the lowest achieved through a public tender in Sub-Sahara Africa for a solar project.

Matteo Brambilla, MD Africa and Middle East of Building Energy, said: “Winning this bid is particularly important to Building Energy because it strengthens our presence in the African continent and witnesses that our business model and strategy are effective in the continent.”

Building Energy has strong presence in Africa across solar, wind and hydro projects. Building Energy, which has an office in Cape Town, is coordinating the development and realization of more than 350MWp of projects in South Africa and in sub-Saharan Africa including Zambia, Uganda and Mali.

Building Energy’s projects in Africa include a photovoltaic plant in Tororo, Eastern Uganda, which started generating energy in October 2017. Tororo Solar Plant has a capacity of 10 MWp (16 GWh per year).

Building Energy already developed 81 MWp solar farm in Kathu (South Africa), one of the largest solar park on the continent.