Zambia Commissions First 27 MWp Solar-Hydro Hybrid Power Plant

Independent power producer Globeleq and Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company (LHPC) have commissioned Zambia’s first solar-hydro hybrid power plant in Kapiri Mposhi District, Central Province. The project combines a newly built 27 MWp solar photovoltaic plant with the existing 24 MW Lunsemfwa hydropower station.

The hybrid facility aims to strengthen Zambia’s power supply and reduce the impact of severe droughts on its electricity system, which has traditionally depended heavily on hydropower. The project uses solar and hydropower together to improve water management and maintain reliable electricity generation.

During the day, the solar plant supplies a major share of electricity to the national grid. This reduces the need to operate the hydropower turbines and allows LHPC to conserve water in its reservoirs. In the evening, when solar generation declines, the stored water can be released through the turbines to generate electricity during periods of higher demand.

Globeleq, which owns a 51 percent majority stake in LHPC, said the project makes better use of existing transmission infrastructure while avoiding the environmental impacts associated with constructing new dams. The company said combining solar power with existing hydropower capacity provides a practical approach to improving energy security.

Zambia’s Ministry of Energy described the project as an important step toward diversifying the country’s energy mix. It is expected to reduce dependence on hydropower alone and help lower the need for emergency electricity imports during periods of power shortages.

The facility supplies electricity to national utility ZESCO under a long-term power purchase agreement. It also serves commercial customers, including Copperbelt Energy Corporation and Jubilee Metals.

The project demonstrates how solar and hydropower can complement each other to create a more reliable and climate-resilient electricity system. It could also provide a model for similar renewable energy projects across Southern Africa.