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

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

November 6, 2026
A New South Wales (NSW) parliamentary inquiry has recommended that data centres be legally required to supply their own 100% renewable energy on an hourly basis, a stricter test than the state's current guidelines.
November 5, 2026
Essar Renewables has signed a PPA with NHPC Limited for a 300MW firm and dispatchable renewable energy (FDRE) project in Andhra Pradesh.
November 5, 2026
EDP Renewables North America has begun work on its 250MW Cypress Knee Solar project in Arkansas, which will eventually supply power to tech giant Meta.
November 5, 2026
Tristan Erion-Lorico and Song Hao of Kiwa PVEL examine the negative consequences of overreliance on module nameplate power ratings for PV project economics.
November 5, 2026
Inverter and energy storage manufacturer SolarEdge has reported Q3 2026 revenue of US$326.1 million, down 5.8% from Q2 and 4.1% year-on-year.
November 4, 2026
rPlus Energies has closed a revolving credit facility of up to US$450 million to support its project pipeline across the American West.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
November 24, 2026
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
February 2, 2027
London, UK
Solar Media Events
April 20, 2027
Istanbul, Türkiye