The government of Malawi has switched on the country’s first battery energy storage system (BESS).
The 20 MW/40 MWh project is located in the township of Kanengo, within the northern region of Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital.
The Kanengo BESS project was implemented with support from international non-profit initiative Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) alongside the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM), Malawi’s state-owned power transmission and distribution company.
The project, supported by $20 million in catalytic grant financing, is designed to stabilize Malawi’s national grid and reduce reliance on diesel.
“Malawi’s electricity grid has long faced systemic challenges, including instability, high levels of renewable energy curtailment, dependence on hydropower and a costly reliance on diesel back-up generation,” a statement posted by GEAPP explains. “The Kanengo BESS directly addresses these structural constraints by storing energy and managing fluctuations.”
ESCOM CEO William Kayipa added that the project unlocks around 100 MW of renewables that were previously constrained. “This is not just an engineering achievement – it is the foundation for ESCOM’s transformation into a financially viable, high-performing utility capable of supporting Malawi’s target of 70% electricity access by 2030,” Kayipa said.
Speaking during an inauguration ceremony held last month, Malawi’s Minister of Energy, Jean Mathanga, said the BESS marks the beginning of a new era in promoting the country’s energy independence.
She added that battery storage will help reduce power outages in the country while helping hospitals, schools and businesses access reliable electricity. “Solar power has revolutionized Malawi’s energy sector, but the battery energy storage system will make the transition sustainable,” the minister said.
A memorandum of understanding is in place between the government of Malawi and GEAPP to help assist ESCOM to transform and strengthen the country’s electricity system. The partnership also includes plans to establish the Southern Africa BESS Centre of Excellence at Mzuzu University in northern Malawi, which the Ministry of Energy says will “position Malawi as a technology leader in BESS in the southern African region.”
According to data compiled by the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA), available in its online project database, Malawi has a combined 92.5 MWh of battery projects under development.
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