Zambia has launched a nationwide tender to build solar power plants paired with battery storage in all 156 of its constituencies, marking one of the country’s most ambitious decentralised energy initiatives to date.
The Zambia National Energy Commission (ZNEC) said the tender covers the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of 2-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic plants alongside 4 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in each constituency.
The project forms part of the government’s Presidential Constituency Energy Initiative, which aims to roll out constituency-level solar infrastructure to improve electricity access, strengthen grid resilience and reduce dependence on hydropower, which has been strained by recurring droughts.
Under the tender notice, the solar-plus-storage facilities will be installed at suitable sites within each constituency, using existing substations and grid connection points to speed up deployment. All project sites must be located within five kilometres of the nearest substation, ZNEC said.
“The approach is designed to allow for rapid implementation by leveraging existing grid infrastructure,” the tender document said.
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The selected EPC contractor will be responsible for the full scope of works, including procurement, installation, testing and commissioning of the solar plants and battery systems. The tender allows flexibility in system design, with the battery storage permitted to be either integrated directly with the solar plants or deployed as standalone units.
ZNEC said both local and international companies are eligible to participate. The current call is for expressions of interest, which represent the first stage of the procurement process. Shortlisted firms will later be invited to submit full technical and financial bids.
The deadline for submitting expressions of interest is December 24.
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If fully implemented, the programme would add more than 300 MW of solar capacity and significant storage across the country, distributed evenly among constituencies. Officials have not yet disclosed the total project cost or financing structure.
Zambia has been accelerating the expansion of renewable energy as it seeks to diversify its power mix away from hydropower, which still accounts for the bulk of generation but has become increasingly vulnerable to climate variability.
According to the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA), Zambia currently has about 391.7 MW of operational solar capacity. Of this, roughly 152.9 MW was added this year, reflecting a sharp uptick in project development.
The new tender follows other recent activity in the sector. Earlier this month, local renewables developer Kiyona Energy Limited launched a separate tender for a 25 MW solar plant, with applications open until January 9, 2026.
Analysts say Zambia’s push for solar-plus-storage at constituency level could help stabilise local grids, support public services and small businesses, and reduce outages, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas.
The tender underscores the government’s growing reliance on private sector participation and competitive procurement to meet its long-term energy and climate goals.
