Zambia: Largest Solar Power Plant Goes Online — Lessons for Gabon

Great news is coming out of Southern Africa. According to a May 12, 2026, report in PV Magazine, the Zambian company Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) has just commissioned the 136 MW Itimpi II solar power plant—the largest operational solar facility in Zambia to date. This is a historic milestone for solar energy in sub-Saharan Africa.

What does 136 MW actually mean? This capacity is capable of supplying hundreds of thousands of households with clean, renewable electricity. Furthermore, CEC is aiming for more than 500 MW of total solar capacity by 2027—an ambitious goal that confirms the massive growth of solar energy in Africa.

What This Project Reveals About Solar Energy in Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa is catching up at a rapid pace. Zambia is not a country one would immediately associate with the solar revolution. However, with 136 MW commissioned in a single project, it demonstrates that any African country can make significant strides quickly. Consequently, no country on the continent has an excuse for not taking action.

Private investment is on the rise. This project is led by CEC, a private company—not a government. This proves that solar energy has become economically viable in Africa without necessarily relying on public subsidies.

Battery storage complements large power plants. Elsewhere in Zambia, the Zambian Development Agency and Sunshare Energy Limited have signed a $246 million investment agreement for the second phase of the Nambala solar power plant, which will add an additional 250 MW. As a result, Zambia is positioning itself as a regional leader in large-scale solar power. solarquarter

What This Means for Gabon

Gabon and Zambia share one key characteristic: exceptional tropical sunshine and an electricity grid that is struggling to keep up with growing demand. However, Zambia has chosen to take action on a large scale. In Gabon, every individual solar installation is contributing to the same revolution—on a more local scale, but one that is just as important.

What Zambia is doing with 136 MW nationwide, WOW2000 house by house, business by business, since 26 years old in Gabon. Our solar panels Chint certified for 30 years, our lithium batteries state-of-the-art and our hybrid inverters Smart solutions enable every Gabonese citizen to join this African energy revolution—with a 3- to 8-year warranty.

The African solar revolution is underway. In Gabon, it is just beginning at the port of Owendo, a hub for sailors. Contact us using the WhatsApp button on our website.

Source: PV Magazine International, May 12, 2026 Link to the original article: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/05/12/zambias-largest-solar-plant-goes-online/