Enel Green Power (EGP), the Enel Group's global business line dedicated to renewable energy, started operations of the group's first power plant in Zambia, the 34-megawatt Ngonye solar PV plant, Enel announced on Monday.
According to the group's statement, the PV facility, which is located in Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone in the country's south, is part of the World Bank Group's Scaling Solar program. Zambia's Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is administering the program, which in June 2016 awarded EGP the right to develop, finance, construct, own and operate the plant.
The solar plant, which is owned by a special purpose vehicle in which 80% is held by EGP and 20% by IDC, is supported by a 25-year power purchase agreement signed with Zambia's state-owned utility ZESCO.
Once fully up and running, the facility is expected to produce around 70 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year, while avoiding the annual emission of over 25,600 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
According to the press release, EGP is currently the largest independent renewable energy player in Africa in terms of MW installed. The Enel Group is investing around €700 million in the continent, building 900 MW of wind and solar capacity as part of its 2019-2021 strategic plan.
The group currently operates in Zambia, as well as South Africa where it has over 500 MW in operation and more than 700 MW in execution.
Additionally, EGP was awarded 100 MW of solar capacity in Ethiopia and has 180 MW of wind capacity in execution in Morocco, out of a total of 850 MW awarded in the country.
By Hale Turkes
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr