Malawi utility plans 20MW in solar tenders as hydro generation wanes

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

The state-owned Electricity Generation Company of Malawi (EGENCO) has called for expressions of interest for installation of a 10MW solar PV project at Nanjoka in Salima that can later be scaled to 20MW.

Malawi is forecast to have a power demand of 567MW by 2020, according to the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for Malawi published in May 2017. However, EGENCO’s installed generation capacity, including diesel, stands at just 411.6MW so it is facing a shortfall in supply versus demand. The power company has stated that climate change and environmental degradation has reduced the water levels of Lake Malawi, reducing flows in the Shire River, and thus negatively impacting EGENCO’s hydro generation capacity over the four months of the dry seasons.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

Not ready to commit yet?
  • 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

For this reason, EGENCO is “urgent” in its exploration for alternative energy sources including this initial 10MW at Nanjoka, which is located near an area of growing power demand and which can cater for afternoon peak demand. The generated electricity will be connected to the national grid at the existing Nanjoka Substation. Enough land has already been secured to add a further 10MW of PV.

Responses to the EOI are due on 7 March.

Construction on a 60MW solar project started in Malawi back in December.

Read Next

August 29, 2025
US grid interconnection agreements grew by 33% in 2024, reaching 75GW, with three-quarters signed for solar PV and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects, according to a new report from energy market analyst Wood Mackenzie.
August 29, 2025
Meridian Energy and Nova Energy have established a JV to build and operate a 400MW solar plant in Rangitaiki near Taupo in New Zealand.
August 28, 2025
Bahraini, Chinese, Egyptian and Emirati groups have agreed to develop a new solar and storage manufacturing facility in Egypt
August 28, 2025
Indian solar manufacturing firm INA Solar has broken ground on its fourth 4.5GW cell production plant in Narmadapuram, Madhya Pradesh.
August 28, 2025
Boviet Solar has completed exterior construction work on its 3GW PV cell manufacturing facility in Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina. 
August 28, 2025
Developer Pacific Energy has successfully commissioned a 26MW solar-plus-storage site at the Atlas-Campaspe mine in NSW, Australia.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines