- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Solar Industry Association of Zambia (SIAZ) and the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE).
- The MoU sets out the shared goals of the two organisations to support the transition to renewable energy sources in the country’s efforts towards achievement of universal access to energy, with a particular focus on the abundant solar energy potential in Zambia.
The associations will work together on a number of activities, including joint advocacy to create a conducive and enabling environment for a sustainable decentralised solar energy market and to promote the use of renewable energy technologies in Zambia by means of knowledge and information dissemination, networking between public and private stakeholders, institutional capacity building as well as targeted business development and market intelligence support for decentralised renewable energy (DRE) companies.
In this regard, the associations aim to cooperate on targeted skills development and capacity building activities for renewable energy stakeholders in Zambia to create local jobs and enhance the capacity of the sector to raise increased financing for renewable energy projects and businesses. This will be achieved by spearheading in-person or virtual “DRE Investment Academies” or similar trainings for Zambian and international DRE project developers and other stakeholders, with the aim to provide additional fundraising and technical support.
Finally, the MoU states that the partners will support services for Zambian renewable energy actors who work to address energy access, energy security and climate change challenges in Zambia and conduct research to foster the market for renewable energy technologies.
Zambia has 2,800 MW of installed electricity generation capacity, of which 85% is hydro based. National access to electricity averages at 31% with 67% of the urban and 4% of the rural population having access to power.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
