Zambia tenders 300 MW of solar

**Zambia Illuminates Path to Energy Security with Ambitious 300 MW Solar Tender** Zambia has embarked on a significant stride towards bolstering its energy independence and greening its power grid with the launch of the first bid window under its groundbreaking Carbon Feed In Premium Program (CFIP). This ambitious initiative, spearheaded jointly by the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment and the Ministry of Energy, seeks to procure a substantial 300 megawatts (MW) of solar power, marking a pivotal moment in the nation's renewable energy journey. The tender, which is open to a diverse pool of national and international independent power producers (IPPs), alongside the national utility ZESCO and its subsidiaries, underscores Zambia's commitment to fostering a competitive and inclusive environment for energy development. This strategic move is expected to attract considerable investment and expertise, vital for transforming the country's energy landscape. The CFIP program is meticulously designed to support large-scale, grid-connected solar installations, ensuring that the new capacity contributes meaningfully to the national grid. A key feature of this tender is the specified project size, with eligible installations required to have an installed capacity ranging between 30 MW and 100 MW. Critically, each proposed solar facility must incorporate an on-site battery energy storage system (BESS) with a minimum capacity equivalent to half an hour of the plant's output. This forward-thinking requirement directly addresses the perennial challenge of grid stability and intermittency often associated with renewable sources, particularly solar. By mandating storage, Zambia aims to ensure a more reliable and consistent power supply, mitigating potential disruptions and enhancing the overall resilience of the national grid, a crucial factor for industrial growth and household consumption. This initiative comes at a critical juncture for Zambia, a nation that has histori