en.Wedoany.com Reported - Zambia's first solar-hydro hybrid power plant has been officially commissioned, combining a 27MWp solar photovoltaic facility with the existing hydropower capacity operated by Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company (LHPC) and supplying electricity to the national grid.
Located in Zambia's Central Province, the plant was implemented by LHPC, which is 51% owned by Globeleq. The project integrates solar power generation with the operational flexibility of hydropower, aiming to diversify power generation sources and enhance the reliability of electricity supply.
Construction of the solar component began in September 2025 and was originally scheduled for completion in the first half of 2026. At the groundbreaking ceremony, Zambia's Minister of Energy, Makozo Chikote, stated that the hybrid plant development is part of efforts to diversify the country's electricity mix.
LHPC operates two hydropower stations with a combined installed capacity of 56MW, supplying electricity to the national utility, Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO), under long-term power purchase agreements, while also serving private customers such as Copperbelt Energy Corporation and Jubilee Metals. The company also holds a trading license from the Southern African Power Pool, enabling participation in regional electricity trading.
Globeleq acquired a 51% stake in LHPC from Norfund, the Norwegian development finance institution, in March 2026, with the remaining 49% held by Zambia's Wanda Gorge Investments. This acquisition marked Globeleq's first investment in the Zambian market and its first hydropower investment in Africa. At the time of acquisition, LHPC also held a development pipeline of approximately 200MWp of solar generation capacity and several potential hydropower expansion projects.
Zambia's power system has historically been heavily dependent on hydropower, leaving generation capacity constrained during drought periods. The country is advancing the diversification of its power system by adding solar generation capacity on top of existing hydropower, expanding the range of renewable energy sources available to the system. Globeleq is also developing the Kafue solar project in Zambia, as well as the proposed Leopard's Hill scheme, which plans to combine a 150MWac solar photovoltaic plant with a 150MW/600MWh battery energy storage system.
