Arlington, VA – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced funding for a feasibility study grant to REV-UP Solar Ventures Zambia (REV-UP) to support the development of a large-scale solar power project in Zambia''s North-Western Province. The project will supply clean, stable electricity to Zambian industry and households and has the potential to provide power for two critical mineral mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
"This partnership with REV-UP Solar Ventures aims to generate clean, renewable power that will support the Zambian government''s goal for universal electricity access by 2030," said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA''s Director. "U.S. companies are well-positioned to provide technologies and other solutions for this project, which will enhance economic growth and improved quality of life for Zambians, while offering the potential to strengthen battery supply chains."
The study will develop technical and financial recommendations to implement the power project, which will combine 200 megawatts of solar energy generation capacity with battery energy storage. Zambia currently faces a shortage of reliable electricity, due both to increasing demand and reduced hydropower generation caused by declines in precipitation linked to climate change. This is USTDA''s second battery energy storage project in Zambia, following a feasibility study and pilot project in Zambia''s Sesheke District signed earlier this year.
USTDA''s feasibility study advances Power Africa, a U.S government-led initiative to increase energy access and end energy poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI)''s Lobito Corridor, and the U.S.-Zambia-DRC Tri-partite MOU to strengthen electric vehicle battery value chains in the region.
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
Solar energy has become a ray of hope as the globe struggles with the effects of climate change and the urgent need to switch to sustainable energy sources. Zambia has emerged as a shining example of a nation using the power of sunlight to power progress and propel its economic growth. Zambia is one of the nation''s leading the charge in embracing solar energy.
The nation’s dedication to eradicating energy poverty is one of the main forces behind Zambia’s solar energy revolution. Solar power has changed the game in rural areas with limited access to electricity. Solar panels have been placed in isolated villages as a result of numerous initiatives and collaborations, providing the locals with dependable electricity for heating, lighting, and running necessary equipment. This has increased inhabitants’ quality of life while also creating new prospects for the economic, medical, and educational sectors.
Solar energy is not only changing Zambia’s rural villages but also its urban areas. Urbanization has increased electricity demand, which has made it difficult for the conventional power grid to keep up with the rising demands. To fill the gap, solar power plants have stepped in, supplying clean energy to support the grid and lessen load during peak hours. This distributed energy strategy promotes a cleaner and more sustainable energy mix by reducing the nation’s dependency on fossil fuels and ensuring a more reliable power supply.
Additionally, considerable domestic and international investments have been attracted to Zambia’s switch to solar energy. Businesses have been inspired to engage in solar projects of various sizes thanks to the favorable regulatory framework, coupled with government incentives and support. The solar energy industry has developed into a magnet for investment, supporting economic growth and the generation of jobs. This includes large-scale solar farms that feed into the national grid as well as small and medium-sized businesses that cater to localized needs.
Furthermore, Zambia has seen a major improvement in the environment as a result of the growing use of solar energy. The nation’s greenhouse gas emissions have significantly decreased as it lessens its reliance on fossil fuels. This shift to renewable energy supports international efforts to slow down climate change and helps Zambia meet its obligations under the Paris Agreement.
However, Zambia’s solar energy journey is not without its difficulties, much like any transformative process. Despite the enormous potential for solar energy generation, installing solar infrastructure can be expensive initially. Small businesses and communities with limited financial means may find it difficult to invest in solar technology, equipment, and installation.
To overcome this obstacle, the Zambian government has been investigating cutting-edge funding strategies to increase public access to solar energy in collaboration with foreign organizations. Pay-as-you-go programs, lease choices, and user-driven community projects are a few examples of these.
Energy storage and grid integration present additional difficulties. Solar energy production is sporadic since it depends on sunshine. Grid integration and energy storage strategies that are effective are crucial for ensuring a steady and dependable power supply. The creation of effective energy storage technologies, such as batteries, can store extra energy during times of high generation and release it during times of low generation, maintaining a steady supply of electricity.
In conclusion, Zambia’s transition to solar energy in 2023 will demonstrate the country’s dedication to sustainable growth and the quest for a greener future. The nation is illuminating the way to a greener, more robust energy landscape by utilizing the power of sunshine. Zambia is well-positioned to profit from the myriad advantages of a solar-powered future as solar technology develops and investment flows, advancing its people’s progress and prosperity while paving the way for Africa’s sustainable energy revolution.
The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is funding the assessment of a large-scale battery energy storage project in Zambia, which could grow into a 400MWh nationwide rollout.
GreenCo will use the funding to assess the technical, economic, and financial viability of deploying a utility-scale project in the Sesheke District, with the chosen technology and system design still to be chosen.
A media statement didn’t disclose the planned size of the unit but said it would be ‘one of the largest such battery installations in all of Africa’. It said it would help facilitate the integration of renewable energy resources in Zambia and ensure the stability and reliability of the grid.
The project would also ‘place Zambia at the centre of renewable energy trading across southern Africa’ through the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAAP), the international power grid between a dozen countries in southern Africa.
That pilot project will then inform an expanded 400MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) rollout across the country. The study will also include economic and financial analysis for operating the pilot project and larger portfolio.
GreenCo describes itself as an intermediary offtaker and service provider, purchasing power from renewable independent power producers (IPPs) and selling that to utilities and private sector offtakers in Zambia and the wider SAAP.
"We are excited to receive USTDA''s support in developing Zambia''s first utility scale BESS, which will help increase the solar PV and wind power capacities that can be safely connected to the national grid," said GreenCo Group CEO Ana Hajduka. "The BESS and the solar PV pilot project will directly enable are expected to create 600 short-term and 20 long-term jobs. We look forward to working with the Zambia Energy Regulatory Board, ZESCO and the Government of Zambia in ensuring the project''s success."
GreenCO announced plans to procure a 40MWh BESS project in Zambia from IPPs and developers in July last year, inviting them to submit expressions of interest (EOIs). It is not clear if the projects are related.
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