Golomoti Solar wins AFSIA’s ‘Utility-scale solar project of the year’ Award

24th Jun 2022

Africa Energy Forum, Brussels: The 20MWac Golomoti Solar project delivered by JCM Power and PIDG company InfraCo Africa in Malawi, has been recognised as the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) ‘Utility-scale solar project of the year.’ The announcement was made during AFSIA’s annual awards ceremony held this week in Brussels at the Africa Energy Forum.

The AFSIA Awards are designed to recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions made by companies and individuals to promote and advance the use of solar across Africa. The awards recognise good practice, professionalism, quality, safety and innovation, with the aim of being a marker of the ‘brightest and best’ that the African solar industry has to offer.

Accepting the award on the night, Co-founder and Chief Development Officer for JCM Power, Justin Woodward, said: “It’s an honour receiving this award for the second year in row. It’s a further demonstration the partnership between JCM and InfraCo as well as the support we have received from the Government of Malawi.”

Golomoti reached commercial operations in March 2022 and was formally inaugurated earlier this month by His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi. The plant incorporates highly efficient bifacial solar panels and a utility-scale 5MW/10MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS), the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa and Malawi. The Golomoti  BESS was made possible with support from Business Energy and Industrial Strategies International Climate Finance through Innovate UK’s Energy Catalyst and RINA. It enables Golomoti to complement existing hydropower sources, reducing diesel consumption and easing integration of new solar power with Malawi’s existing grid.

InfraCo Africa’s CEO, Gilles Vaes, joined Mr Woodward on stage to accept the award. Speaking after the event he added “As part of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), InfraCo Africa is committed to delivering climate-resilient infrastructure in frontier markets. We are delighted that AFSIA has recognised Golomoti Solar here today and it is a pleasure to accept the award with our partners, JCM Power.”

Golomoti’s sister project, Salima Solar, was commissioned late last year. Together, the two plants now deliver 80MWac of clean power to Malawi’s national grid.

 

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