Malawi New Energy Storage Project

Malawi's geographical location necessitates a reasonable internal storage capacity to prevent supply disruptions due to natural or man-made emergencies. The recommended capacity for a landlocked country is at least 90 days' supply [as suggested by GoM, SADC, and the International Energy Agency].

In Malawi, solar energy developments are helping local communities maintain sustainable energy. For instance, Bwengu Projects Malawi provides teachers in high-needs schools with solar-powered LED projectors in Bwengu, the northern countryside of Malawi.

The purpose of Government fuel storage facilities in Malawi includes utilizing them as inland dry ports and common-user facilities, ensuring effective participation of Malawian nationals in the petroleum products market, and developing guidelines for franchising of liquid fuel outlets.

The project will also contribute to a cleaner energy future for Malawi, reducing reliance on costly diesel generators, cutting carbon emissions by ~10,000 tonnes annually, and unlocking the full uptake of at least 100 MW of variable renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, into the grid.

The Malawi BESS project will guide the scale-up of BESS projects in the Consortium's participating countries. To alleviate energy poverty by 2030 and save a gigaton of CO2 in low and middle-income countries, it is estimated that 90 GW of BESS must be developed to support the required 400 GW of renewable energy.

We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Government of Malawi to support the country's ambition to achieve universal electricity access by 2030 as we pursue the goals of Mission 300: connecting 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030 at unprecedented scale and speed.”