Zambia solar tender sets Sub-Saharan price record

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

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 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

July 15, 2025
Malaysian utility company Tenaga Nasional Berhad has officially launched a floating solar pilot project, which could help unlock 2.2GW of generation capacity.
July 15, 2025
Ingeteam has expanded its footprint in Australia by announcing it will supply the 243MWp Maryvale Solar and Energy Storage Project in New South Wales.
July 14, 2025
Australian renewables developer Edify Energy has submitted plans for a 300MWac solar-plus-storage site in Victoria to Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
July 14, 2025
ACWA Power has signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) for five solar PV projects in the country.
July 14, 2025
Elements Green has secured €80 million (US$93.5 million) in financing from Danish investment firm Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP).
July 14, 2025
Solar and storage developer MN8 Energy has raised US$575 million to refinance three PV projects in North Carolina, Kentucky and Illinois.

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