Zambia energy storage industry policy research

Does financialization restructure Zambia's political economy of energy?

Zambia’s energy sector is subject to dynamic developments. Our analysis of the GETFiT initiative and the BGFZ demonstrates how financialization restructures the country’s political economy of energy. The cases yield four important insights into the financialization of development endeavours, thus expanding the debate with new empirical evidence.

Can battery storage be used with solar photovoltaics in Zambia?

The Zambian regulation foresees customs duty and VAT exemptions for most equipment used in renewable energy or battery storage projects. Detailed information is provided in In this section, we discuss the opportunity of battery storage in combination with solar photovoltaics from a financial point of view.

How has Zambia improved access to electricity?

Coupled with the adoption of the Rural Electrification Master Plan in 2008, Zambia was able to expand access to electricity from about 20 percent before 2010 to above 40 percent in 2019. The review of the National Energy Policy in 2019 marked the beginning of the third wave of sector reforms.

How to address Zambia's energy access gap?

To help address Zambia’s energy access gap, decentralized energy systems, including solar mini-grids, will need to be deployed. Zambia needs to bolster investments to scale mini-grid development by creating a more enabling investment environment through transparent, predictable, simpler, and fair regulation.

How can a solar system improve Zambia's energy access?

Solutions incorporating both the extension of the main grid and the installation of mini-grids and stand-alone solar systems will be required to improve Zambia’s energy access and ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and clean electricity in line with Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7).

What is Zambia's national energy policy?

One of the critical objectives of Zambia’s National Energy Policy of 2019 is to increase electricity access to improve the lives of Zambians. To operationalize this, it has included the development of mini-grids in the integration plan for the policy, implemented between 2020 and 2025 (The National Energy Policy, 2019).