BayWa r.e. commissions first PV and battery plant in Africa

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
BayWa r.e. plant in Zambia.

German renewables firm BayWa r.e. has commissioned a combined PV and battery system in Zambia's Chisamba province, to supply irrigation for aquacultural farming.

Christof Thannbichler, Managing Director of BayWa r.e. Solar Projects GmbH, said: “We are really happy to have successfully completed our first project in Africa.”

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The farm is supplied for up to 13 hours per day with 450kWh, equal to the emissions of 145 tonnes of CO₂ per year and 150 litres of diesel fuel per day.

Situated on the premises of the NKTC farm the pilot plant consists of 260 solar modules with a total capacity of 86kWp.

Excess energy is temporarily stored in 160kWh battery storage systems with the water reservoir also serving as additional storage.

Battery and water storage supply the farm from 7am until 7pm, operating during these hours independently from the grid. The farm is then reconnected to the grid during evening hours.

“It is precisely in the tropical and subtropical regions of the globe where farmers are dependent on reliable and uninterrupted power supply for the irrigation of their fields,” said, Thannbichler.

BayWa r.e. will assume technical operations management of the plant as well as being active in training location farmers and monitoring the systems.

The company currently has other projects in development to expand its activity on the African continent as well as continued projects elsewhere including the UK

BayWa r.e. in Africa.
21 October 2025
New York, USA
Returning for its 12th edition, Solar and Storage Finance USA Summit remains the annual event where decision-makers at the forefront of solar and storage projects across the United States and capital converge. Featuring the most active solar and storage transactors, join us for a packed two-days of deal-making, learning and networking.

Read Next

July 4, 2025
Australian retailer AGL Energy has confirmed its acquisition of South Australia’s Virtual Power Plant (SAVPP) from Tesla.
Premium
July 3, 2025
Meeting the UK’s solar targets will not simply require the installation of new capacity, but investment in grid infrastructure and training.
July 3, 2025
Malaysian engineering and infrastructure giant Gamuda has expanded its presence in the Australian renewables sector by partnering with Tasmanian landowners to build a 1.2GW portfolio, which includes solar PV.
Premium
July 2, 2025
ANALYSIS: China's leading PV manufacturers are locked in a new round of competition, aiming to outpace each other through record-breaking feats.
July 2, 2025
Investment manager Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners has begun commercial operations at a 373MW solar PV plant in the UK.
July 2, 2025
Indigenous-led renewable energy company Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC) has submitted plans for a hybrid wind and solar PV renewable energy project to the Australian government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK