| Investee Company | Golomoti JCM Solar Corporation Ltd |
| Sector | Power/Energy |
| Country | Malawi |
| Total Project Cost | USD 34.81m |
| PIDG Commitment |
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| Dates of PIDG involvement |
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Malawi has an electrification rate of just 18 per cent, with frequent power outages affecting economic productivity. The country’s energy sector is currently reliant upon hydro power. However, rainfall fluctuations have severely impacted electricity generation in recent years, with the situation expected to worsen. The Government of Malawi has recognised energy as a key driver of economic growth in its Growth and Development Strategy (2017-2022) and is working to establish regulatory frameworks needed to attract private sector investment to Malawi’s energy sector. The government is also committed to diversifying the country’s energy mix to mitigate against climate vulnerability and reduce reliance on expensive diesel generation. High solar irradiation levels suggest that solar power generation could have considerable potential to support this objective.
Golomoti Solar is a 20MWac solar photovoltaic (PV) project with a 5MW battery energy storage system (BESS) located at Dedza, approximately 100km southeast of Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe. The plant connects with the adjacent Golomoti substation which evacuates power via a 132kV transmission line, facilitating delivery of much-needed power to Malawi’s national grid. Golomoti Solar is the third of Malawi’s commercial-scale solar PV plants and incorporates a utility-scale BESS, the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa. PIDG co-developed Golomoti Solar with JCM Power, a Canadian clean energy independent power producer (IPP). The two companies have an established relationship, having worked together with Matswani on the 60MWac Salima Solar project, which was commissioned in 2021. Golomoti Solar began delivering power to Malawi’s national grid in 2022.
Adding 20MWac of solar energy plus 5MW BESS to Malawi’s national grid will diversify the country’s electricity generation. Developed alongside the 60MWac Salima Solar project, Golomoti Solar has helped with foundational documentation for future solar projects in Malawi.
The project’s BESS demonstrates the commercial viability of using battery storage to ease integration of new variable capacity on the grid. The BESS was funded by support from Business Energy and Industrial Strategies International Climate Finance through Innovate UK’s Energy Catalyst and RINA.
Malawi relies on hydro and privately-owned diesel power generation. Falling water levels have reduced hydro generation significantly, resulting in prolonged blackouts. Golomoti supports efforts to meet Malawi’s growing demand for energy whilst reducing the country’s dependency on hydro and diesel.
Technical assistance grant funding for water boreholes in nearby communities is expected to empower women through enabling participation in water governance committees and reducing the distance covered – predominantly by women – when fetching water.
