Malawi’s Ministry of Energy and the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) have launched a net metering scheme intended at supporting residential PV deployment across the country.
“The new regulatory frameworks would enable households and businesses to generate their own electricity and supply surplus power to the national grid, reducing reliance on conventional energy sources and promoting a cleaner, more affordable and sustainable energy future for Malawi,” said Minister of Energy, Jean Mathanga.
Implementation activities had already commenced in May 2026 under the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM). An initial pilot programme is expected to involve 34 eligible prosumers, with a combined generation capacity of approximately 3.9 MW. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has also demonstrated the practical application of net metering through a solar PV installation connected to the national grid.
Although the regulatory framework has been introduced and pilot implementation is underway, the extent of nationwide commercial deployment remains unclear. In particular, the availability of the scheme to all eligible customers, applicable compensation arrangements and detailed administrative procedures require further verification.
Malawi’s electricity sector has historically faced challenges related to grid instability, dependence on hydropower, renewable energy curtailment and reliance on costly diesel backup generation. To address these challenges and facilitate greater integration of renewable energy, the country has recently invested in grid-scale energy storage infrastructure.
In July 2026, Malawi inaugurated its first utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS), located in Kanengo, Lilongwe. The facility has a capacity of 20 MW/40 MWh and was developed by ESCOM with support from the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), including $20 million in grant financing.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the country had 105 MW of installed PV capacity at the end of 2025.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
Comments
Please login to comment
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm CET, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
Day 1 | Europe’s Solar and Storage Markets 2027: What works where?
Day 2 | Solar + Storage Co-location: Three markets, three business cases
Day 3 | Solar Quality: Which technical risks still need better answers?
Day 4 | Cybersecurity and Procurement: What can European solar projects source in 2027 and beyond?
Friday, November 13, 2026
10:00 am – 11:00 am CET, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
As a media partner of Genera 2026, pv magazine will organize and moderate a session in Spanish in Madrid, during International Electrification and Decarbonization Week.
Monday, November 23, 2026
11:00 am – 12:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
You have no items in your basket.
