UK Energy Trader BB Energy has commissioned a 25 MW trader plant in Zambia, which marks the first such facility to become a member of the South African Energiepool market. An extension of 35 MW is planned for completion later this year as part of a 118 MW target by 2027.
The British energy trade group BB Energy has enabled a 25 MW-Merchant solar facility in Zambia.
The first phase of the Mailo Solar factory in Central Zambia, owned by the subsidiary of BB Energy Solarcentury Africa, is now fully operational and actively acts electricity via the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).
This makes it the first dedicated Merchant Solar Power Plant that trades Power directly to the SAPP, a competing regional electricity market that connects utilities and large customers in South Africa. BB Energy says that the model makes it possible to sell electricity to day head, hour and intra-day markets, as well as through bilateral contracts.
The Mailo Solar Site has been developed, financed and built into less than one year and is currently able to feed 25,000 houses based on the average consumption of households in Zambia. The construction was carried out by the Aly Energy Solutions from Namibia.
A second phase of the Mailo project, consisting of another 35 MW, is currently under construction and due to reach capacity within a few months. Financing for the second phase of works is secured through a loan of $ 40 million from Standard Bank.
A third phase of working on the Mailo site is also planned, expected to be combined capacity up to 118 MW by 2027.
A statement from BB Energy adds that the construction also progresses at the Gerus Solar project in Namibia, a 20 MW site That reached financially closed in October.
Together, the projects contribute to the aim of Solarcentury Africa to reach a 500 MW merchant portfolio in the South African Development Community region.
Stephen DIHWA, executive director of SAPP, says that the commissioning of the first Merchant Solar Power Plant on the trading platform “marks an important step towards accelerating renewable energy generation and promoting sustainable power trade in the region.”
At the end of 2024, Zambia had installed 196 MW of Solar Energy, by the end of the year before, according to figures from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). In May, Staatsbedrijf Zesco completed the 100 MW Chisamba Solar Farm in southern Zambia, currently the largest grid -connected solar facility in the country.
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