Zambia solar tender sets Sub-Saharan price record

April 8, 2019
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
A project developed in Uganda under its own GET FiT programme. Source: Access Power.

The latest GET FiT tender in Zambia has awarded 120MW of capacity and set a record low price for Sub-Saharan Africa.

The tender had originally been for 100MW but was extended, owing to the quality of the received bids.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The lowest bid of 3.999 Us cents per kWh is the first under the four-cent mark. The weighted average price across all projects was 4.41 cents.

The scheme is run by Zambia’s Department of Energy and the German development bank KfW.

“What has made this such a competitive outcome is the bankable standardised transaction agreements, the effective tender implementation and the steadfast commitment of the Government of Zambia and [state power company] ZESCO,” said Marco Freitag of KFW Development Bank.

The six winning bids were awarded in pairs to three successful bidders, whittled down from 23 consortia.

  • Two Proposals of Joint Venture Building Energy & Pele Energy – Bulemu East and West–20MWac each at USDc 3.999/kWhac.
  • Two Proposals of Joint Venture Globeleq & Aurora Power Solutions – Aurora Sola One and Two – 20MWac each at USDc 4.52/kWhac.
  • Two Proposals of Joint Venture of InnoVent and CEC – Garneton North and South Solar20MWac each at USDc 4.80/kWhac.

“It is important to recognise that these tariff results represent a truly competitive outcome. Not only were developers required to find and acquire their own suitable sites and pay for shallow grid connection, but GET FiT Zambia has offered no form of grant financing, nor has it arranged for concessional finance,” said Ryan Anderson, the tender agent team leader.

Read Next

April 23, 2026
Evren has secured US$600 million in financing to develop a 1GW hybrid firm and dispatchable renewable energy (FDRE) portfolio across Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.
April 23, 2026
The 31MW Mulwala Solar Farm in New South Wales has been registered in the Australian Energy Market Operator's Market Management System (MMS).
April 22, 2026
BrightNight has acquired a 6GW portfolio of projects previously held under its joint venture with Canadian asset manager Cordelio Power.
April 22, 2026
A federal judge in Massachusetts has temporarily halted the Trump administration's restriction of solar and wind projects on US federal land.
April 22, 2026
US independent power producer Geronimo Power has begun commercial operations at its 270MW Blevins solar plant in Falls County, Texas.
April 22, 2026
Work has begun on the 500MW Maun solar-plus-storage project in Botswana, which will be a cornerstone of the country's plan to reach 1.5GW of operational renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade.

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
June 3, 2026
National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA
Solar Media Events
October 13, 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
November 3, 2026
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
November 24, 2026
Warsaw, Poland