Bangweulu Solar Power Station (BSPS), is a 54 MW (72,000 hp) solar power plant in Zambia. The solar farm that was commercially commissioned in March 2019, was developed and is owned by a consortium comprising Neoen, a French IPP, Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia (IDC Zambia), a government parastatal company and First Solar, a US-based solar panel manufacturer. The power station cost US$60 million to develop.[1][2]
The power plant is located in the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone,[2] in Kafue District, in Lusaka Province, approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi), by road, southeast of the central business district of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia and the largest city in that country.[3] BSPS its on 52 hectares (130 acres) of real estate.[4] The geographical coordinates of Bangweulu Solar Power Station are 15°30''42.0"S, 28°25''54.0"E (Latitude:-15.511667; Longitude:28.431667), just north of the Ngonye Solar Power Station.[5]
The Government of Zambia, through IDC Zambia, working with the World Bank Group, as part of the bank''s program "Scaling Solar", awarded the tender to develop this power station to Neoen, a French independent power producer. The American solar panel manufacturer First Solar Inc. was selected to manufacture and supply the solar panels for the power station.[1][2][6]
The power generated here is purchased by Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO) under a 25-year power purchase agreement executed between ZESCO and Neoen at US$0.0602 per kWh.[1][2][6]
This power station is owned by a consortium whose members are illustrated in the table below. The members of the consortium formed a special purpose vehicle company Bangweulu Power Company Limited, which operates and maintains the power station.[1][2][6]
This renewable energy infrastructure development project received a grant of US$2 million, from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).[7]
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (formerly OPIC, now DFC), jointly lent US$39 million to the consortium of owner/developers of BSPS.[4]
The EPC contract was awarded to Sterling & Wilson, an engineering and Construction company, based in India. Construction started in December 2017, with commercial commissioning taking place in March 2019.[1][2][4]
The Kabwe 100MW Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Project, undertaken by POWERCHINA, broke ground in Zambia on Feb 1. Officials and representatives from Zambia and POWERCHINA attended the ceremony.
The Kabwe Solar PV Project was signed during Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema's visit to China on Sept 14, 2023. The main construction work includes 100 MW photovoltaic installations, a 330 kV booster station, and the construction of transmission lines.
Once completed, this will be Zambia's largest solar power plant. The project will significantly improve the power supply in the central region of Zambia, supporting its industry, agriculture, and mining sectors. It will also address regional and seasonal contradictions in power supply and demand, ensure power supply security, and promote the development and improvement of local infrastructure.
Add: Building 1, Courtyard 1, Linglongxiang Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100037, P.R inaPowerchina Overseas Business Unit, Building 23, No.17 Xicui Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100036, P.R inahttps://en.powerchina.cn
Zambia has a high potential for solar power and the sector is growing. Right now, Zambia mainly depends on hydropower, due to the large dams generating electricity in the country. Droughts made this electricity source less dependable and combined with the increase in electricity demand a new renewable source is desirable. The growth in solar power is therefore of great value and goes beyond just the energy sector. Access to electricity improves other sectors as well, such as the educational sector, public health sector, water sector and the food sector. Furthermore, it benefits women empowerment and it helps to adapt to climate change and mitigation. Several communities, entrepreneurs, the government and NGOs work together to increase the share of solar power in the country.
The Zambian solar sector consists of several segments. Most installations generate power with the use of solar photovoltaics (PV). Examples of the usage of these systems is mainly related to electronic devices and lighting in businesses, houses and communities. Another applications is solar water pumping, heating and cleaning of water. This is especially valuable for the agricultural sector.
The Zambian solar market is growing, although it is still relatively small in comparison with countries like Tanzania. 95% of the electricity supply in the country comes from hydropower, where less than 1% comes from other renewable sources. Since the electricity demand in Zambia is growing, there is much room for solar to grow as well. The already seen growth is mainly in the off-grid sector. This sector has a high potential, due to the low population density of the country and the low electricity access rates. This is reflected in the current percentage of solar use in rural areas compared to urban areas. Only 0.8% of the lighting systems in urban areas get their electricity from solar systems. For rural areas, this is 7.4%.
Luckily, the government is supporting the sector in its growth. At the moment, there are around 29 solar companies with a licence in Zambia. Due to the announced (private) financing opportunities, the market is expected to grown more the upcoming years. Therefore, it is very likely new solar companies will arise and access to electricity will increase.
Furthermore, the government aim for the development of 600MW on-grid solar projects in the coming 2-3 years. Part of this is the GET FiT program, which is supported by the German Development Bank. With the GET FiT program, the Zambian REFiT strategy is implemented, where 200MW of renewable energy projects are realized by supporting small and medium sized enterprises with projects up to 20MW.
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Solar Water Pumping Calculation
Barbershop owner Luckson Ngoma is one businessowner who will benefit from a stable supply of electricity through the Scaling Solar program.
LUSAKA, May 14, 2019 – During the peak of load-shedding in 2017, Edah Muleya, a salon owner in Lusaka''s Kalingalinga area, saw a significant reduction in profits, hurting both her business and her family.
But Muleya no longer has to worry. Last month, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu inaugurated the Bangweulu Scaling Solar Plant in Lusaka''s Multi-Facility Economic Zone. The 54-milliwatt (MW) plant is expected to supply as many as 30,000 households and several businesses with electricity. This is particularly important in Zambia, where one-fifth of the population has access to electricity and drought has taxed hydropower facilities.
"I am excited to hear that President Lungu has launched the Bangweulu Solar plant, because it means load shedding will reduce," said Muleya. "With stable supply of electricity, I am able to make a profit of about K3500 ($350)."
Constructed with support from the World Bank Group through the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Zambia is the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to implement the Scaling Solar program. The program brings together Bank Group services and instruments under a single engagement aimed at creating viable markets for grid-connected solar energy.
"This program represents what coordinated efforts can achieve," President Lungu said during the event. "The collaboration and commitment shown by the key government institutions involved in this effort should be a model of how we facilitate private sector growth in Zambia."
Small business owners such as Canan Mutunta, a welder, and Luckson Ngoma, a barbershop owner, also hope to benefit from the stable supply of electricity.
Scaling Solar is an open and competitive approach that facilitates the rapid development of privately-owned, utility-scale solar PV projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. It enables governments and utilities to procure solar power transparently and at the lowest possible cost. Through competitive auctions organized by the program, Zambia was able to attract world class developers to its first two projects and obtain some of the lowest tariffs in Africa at that time; $.06 cents and $.078 cents per kilowatt hour fixed for 25 years.
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