Time to look beyond borders for electricity sourcing

March 24, 2025

Agreeing the third cross-border grid connection since January 2025, Zambia is fighting back against the fast disappearance of its hydropower capacity. The government this week signed a tentative interconnector deal with neighbouring Mozambique, following similar arrangements with Botswana and Tanzania.

  • Insufficient generation capacity has led to the implementation of a minimum of 12 hours of daily power cuts in the country. This was initiated last year due to the worst drought in living memory, which severely impacted hydropower generation.

  • The country hasn't kept up with electricity demand, which has been growing by about 150 MW to 200 MW annually. It is banking on solar power and cross-border electricity trading to supplement its grid.

  • Our take: It is high time countries look beyond borders for electricity sourcing to diversify their electricity sources and avoid the risk of relying on a single energy type... Read more (2 min)

Residential battery energy storage is still a relatively new market in Africa, despite the growth of solar home systems. However, this appears to be changing, particularly in South Africa, as evidenced by the recent launch of the Tesla Powerwall 3, which has become a mainstay of households in a growing part of America.

  • South Africa's ongoing energy crisis has generated a strong demand among households and businesses for dependable backup power solutions. The high cost of batteries has, however, prevented many from installing them. But costs are declining.  

  • The South African home battery storage market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19%, reaching a market value of approximately $46 million by 2028.

  • Our take: Powerwall 3 is not just a battery, it's a power play. But can South Africans afford to join the game?… Read more (2 min)

Op-ed: IPPs didn’t cause Kenya's high prices

Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are not to blame for high electricity prices in Kenya, argues Peninah Njakwe, Head of Programmes & Communications at the Electricity Sector Association of Kenya (ESAK). She points out that the cheapest geothermal power plant on the grid today is by an IPP.

  • Ms Njakwe is a communication specialist with experience of over seven years. She holds a bachelor's degree in communication and media studies from St. Paul's University. She has worked at ESAK for almost two years.

  • Miscommunication, or perhaps an underlying agenda to portray IPPs negatively, is harming the electricity sector. Ms Njakwe explains the significant role IPPs have played in Kenya's electricity sector and that they should be engaged to deliver power.

  • To read her op-ed article, please click here.

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A solar technician mounts a 16 KW residential solar system in Kiambu, Kenya

Events

🗓️ Register for the Practical Guide to Grid-Tied PV Systems webinar (Mar 27)

🗓️ Sign up for Green Value Chains in South Africa: Unlocking Investment and International Collaboration webinar (Mar 27)

🗓️ Meet industry leaders at The Renewable Energy Week 2025 (May 26)

Jobs

👔 Become EDF Renewables' new Talent Business Partner (South Africa)

🧑‍💻 Join Schneider Electric as a Customer Project Technical Leader (Egypt)

📈 Oversee Hydrobox’s Marketing department  (Kenya)

Various 

🔆 Zimbabwe opens bidding for 5 MW solar project

🤝 Kenya and China partner on nuclear energy development

🟢 B2Gold finishes Phase 2 solar expansion in Mali

Seen on LinkedIn 

Elizabeth Christine Nyambura CEM, Solar Energy Consultant at SheSpeaksSolar, says, “There’s money for solar projects—but only if they’re bankable.”

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