Zambia launches 300 MW solar tender with battery storage
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- Zambia invites applications to its Carbon Feed In Premium Program (CFIP), a new results‑based financing mechanism for large‑scale, grid‑connected solar installations.
- Ministry of Green Economy and Environment will implement the CFIP alongside the Ministry of Energy, opening participation to national and international independent power producers, ZESCO and its subsidiaries.
- CFIP's first window targets 300 MW of new solar capacity, limited to projects sized 30‑100 MW that must include on‑site battery storage of at least half an hour.
- ZESCO will act as the primary off‑taker under power purchase agreements for projects that connect to the national grid.
- Zambia will host an online CFIP information event on April 14 and set a May 31 deadline for expressions of interest.
- Norway will fund the CFIP through a bilateral agreement, paying for verified emissions reductions generated by the projects.
- AFSIA reports 912.4 MW of operational solar across 142 projects in Zambia, and ZESCO recently completed a 100 MW Chisamba solar farm, planning a second 100 MW at the site and another 100 MW project in the east.
Why it matters: The tender creates a pipeline of 300 MW of solar plus storage for the national grid, giving ZESCO a new off‑taker role and opening revenue streams for IPPs, while Norway secures verified emissions reductions under its bilateral agreement and supports Zambia’s climate‑energy targets.
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