Canadian renewable energy developer SkyPower Global has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for 1 GW of solar energy capacity with the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO).
The PPA is aimed at creating new jobs and providing electricity for close to 4 million homes from the 1 GW capacity, said Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.
"This initiative aims to substantially increase our renewable capacity to address both current and future energy needs as Zambia aims to increase industrial productivity and fulfill our aspiration to attain over 3 million metric tonnes of annual Copper production," added Hichilema.
In a statement, SkyPower said the agreement forms a pivotal component of the country's Integrated Renewable Energy Plan. The solar project dubbed Green Giant Zambia project is aimed to be a model for renewable energy development globally, it stated.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), at the end of 2023, Zambia had 124 MW of total solar PV capacity installed out of 3.33 GW total renewable energy capacity.
In September 2020, SkyPower signed a 1 GW PPA with the Société Nationale d'Electricité (SNEL) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under the framework of a SkyPower Green Giant Public Private Partnership (PPP).