- Scatec ASA has been selected to construct a 50 MW solar farm in Botswana.
- The farm will supply power to about 20,000 homes and offset about 48,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
- Botswana aims to increase the share of renewables to 15% of its energy mix by 2030 and boost it to 50% by 2036.
Scatec ASA, a Norwegian green power producer, has been selected to construct a 50 MW solar farm in Botswana. The project is expected to be ready for commercial operation by June 2024.
The Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) awarded the project, signing a power purchase agreement with Scatec to off-take the power generated from the facility over 25 years. The project is set to become the first large-scale solar farm in the country and will be located in the former mining town of Selibe Phikwe, in the eastern part of Botswana.
Upon becoming operational, the farm will supply power to about 20,000 homes and offset about 48,000 tonnes of carbon emissions yearly. The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) phase of the project will be performed by Scatec. The company will also operate and maintain the power plant.
Prior to this deal, BPC has signed five other solar PPAs with Scatec. The company has already been awarded five projects for the development of small-scale solar plants scores the country, two of which are already under construction. The rest are still in their financing stages.
For Scatec, the project marks its expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa. Earlier this week, the power producer agreed NOK 1.2 billion (USD 0.120m/EUR 0.120m) in guarantees in support of its project for 540 MW of solar power and 225 MW of battery storage in South Africa.