LILONGWE, Malawi — Malawi and China have strengthened their bilateral cooperation in renewable energy following the completion of the signing process for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) paving the way for implementation of the Capital Hill Solarization Project, writes AfricaBrief Staff Reporter.
Representatives from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China presented a signed copy of the MoU from Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China, to Malawi’s Minister of Energy, Jean Mathanga.
Upon receiving the document, Mathanga signed the MoU on behalf of the Government of Malawi, completing the bilateral signing process and paving the way for implementation of the project.
The MoU provides for the development of a 3-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) carport system at Capital Hill in Lilongwe.
The project will integrate solar power generation with electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and a net metering system that will allow excess electricity generated by the solar system to be exported to the national grid.
Once operational, the 3 MW solar PV system is expected to generate approximately 5.4 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually.
The project is also expected to enable Capital Hill to save an estimated $540,000 in electricity costs each year through reduced reliance on electricity from the national grid and revenue or savings associated with net metering.
With the bilateral signing process now complete, the next step is for the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China to commence implementation of the project.
The initiative is expected to strengthen Malawi’s energy security, reduce government operating costs and promote the use of clean transport within the public sector.
The project will also contribute to Malawi’s renewable energy, climate action and sustainable development aspirations while further strengthening cooperation between Malawi and China in the energy sector.
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