- 4.6 MWp solar facility now online in Ghanzi with 9 GWh annual output.
- Project financed with US$2.5m from Afrigreen Debt Impact Fund.
The Sandveld Solar Park in Ghanzi, Botswana, has reached commercial operation, with a COD of 23 January 2026. The 4.6 MWp facility marks a key milestone in Botswana’s renewable energy transition and reflects growing private sector participation in the country’s power sector.
The project was developed through a collaboration between New Sahara Ventures and Energy Systems Group. It is expected to generate approximately 9 GWh of clean electricity per year and reduce carbon emissions by close to 9,000 tonnes annually, contributing to national decarbonisation goals.
Financing for the project was supported by a US$2.5m loan from the Afrigreen Debt Impact Fund, representing the fund’s first investment in Botswana. The transaction signals increasing investor confidence in the country’s renewable energy market and highlights the role of blended and impact finance in scaling distributed generation assets across Southern Africa.
Beyond energy generation, the Sandveld Solar Park is delivering local economic value in the Ghanzi region, including employment creation and skills development during construction and early operations phases.
Strategically, the project aligns with New Sahara Ventures’ objective to reach 1 GW of installed capacity across the Southern African Development Community region within the next three to five years. It also supports Botswana’s Vision 2036 framework, which aims to significantly increase the contribution of renewable energy to the national energy mix and strengthen long term energy security.
Ghanzi is fast emerging as a solar development hub. Among other notable projects in the district is a 21 MW solar plant being developed by Release by Scatec to supply power to the Motheo Copper Mine. The facility is expected to reach commercial operation by late 2026, further reinforcing the district’s role in advancing utility scale solar deployment in Botswana.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
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