Malawi is building its first battery-energy storage system to protect its grid from extreme weather, including cyclones that have repeatedly disrupted power in recent years.
Why it matters
With over 60% of its 586MW installed capacity reliant on hydropower, Malawi’s grid is highly vulnerable to cyclones like Idai (2019) and Ana (2022).
Cyclone Freddy, in 2023, underscored the need for greater resilience as it caused widespread outages and over 1,000 deaths in Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar.
Driving the news
- The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet is funding up to $20 million of the project.
- Malawi’s government and state utility ESCOM are also contributing, targeting completion next year.
How it helps
- The system will provide backup power to households and businesses during outages, minimizing disruptions.
- It supports efforts to close Malawi’s significant energy gap, with 75% of the 21 million population lacking access to electricity.
Source: Bloomberg
