Botswana Power Corporation Awards Scatec ASA First Large Scale Solar Contract

Norway-based renewable energy leader Scatec has said that it has signed a binding 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with and the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) for the construction of a solar PV facility with a contracted capacity of 50 megawatt.

The solar facility will be set up in Selibe Phikwe, a former mining town located in the eastern part of the country. The solar power plant will ensure that approximately 48,000 tons of CO2 emissions will be avoided and power approximately 20,000 households annually.

Scatec said that it owns 100% of the project and will be the designated engineering, procurement and construction company (EPC), asset manager, and O&M contractor.

Project Essential to Botswana’s Energy Transition 

Scatec terms it a significant development for Botswana, and for the green energy transition in Sub-Saharan Africa. Notably, Botswana is rich in natural resources and has vast solar energy potential, receiving over 3,200 hours of sunshine per year.

Even though Botswana possesses 66% of Africa’s coal resources, the country’s ambitions to drive a renewable energy transformation is clear to see. Neighbouring country, South Africa, has displayed that the transition to renewables can be cost effective and sustainable – whilst aligning to global carbon emission reduction goals.

Botswana aims at increasing the renewable sources of energy to 15% in the country’s energy mix by 2030. Scatec also held that Botswana’s vision 2036 calls for 50% renewable energy allocation by 2036, said Scatec.

Jan Fourie, General Manager of Sub-Saharan Africa, Scatec, said, “We are proud to have reached this milestone with the BPC – demonstrating our ability to support and deliver clean energy and infrastructure to Sub-Saharan Africa. It is also a significant achievement for the people of Botswana.”

According to African Development Bank, Botswana had a total power generation capacity of about 890 MW at the beginning of this year and about 99 per cent is coal dependent. The country had last year approved the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to balance the power sector with renewable sources addition. The IRP contributes to the introduction of at least 50MW and 100MW wind and solar PV capacity.