LILONGWE, Malawi (XOL Africa) — Malawi has commissioned its first standalone utility-scale battery energy storage system, a 20-megawatt, 40-megawatt-hour facility designed to improve grid reliability, reduce dependence on diesel generation and help unlock more renewable energy capacity.
The Kanengo Battery Energy Storage System, commissioned Friday in Lilongwe, was developed by the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) in partnership with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and supported by a $20 million grant from the alliance.
The project is expected to help stabilize Malawi’s electricity grid and improve power reliability for households, businesses, industries and critical public services. Officials say the system could also help unlock about 100 megawatts of existing renewable generation capacity that has been constrained by grid limitations.
“Today marks far more than the switch-on of a battery system — it marks the moment Malawi’s grid became smarter, stronger, and future-ready,” ESCOM Chief Executive Officer William Kayipa said.
Kayipa said the storage facility would help reduce renewable energy curtailment, limit reliance on expensive diesel generation and support ESCOM’s efforts to become a financially viable utility.
“By storing and deploying power instantaneously, we are stabilising feeder voltages, reducing system losses, and unlocking about 100 MW of renewable generation that was previously constrained,” he said.
The facility is expected to prevent more than 10,000 tons of carbon emissions annually while improving the resilience of the country’s electricity system to climate-related shocks.
Global Energy Alliance Chief Executive Officer Woochong Um said the project demonstrated how targeted financing could help countries expand clean energy while improving access to electricity.
“Malawi has demonstrated that Africa does not have to choose between energy access and clean energy transition,” Um said. “With this 20 MW / 40 MWh BESS now operational, Malawi is unlocking about 100 MW of renewable capacity that would otherwise be stranded.”
The project is the alliance’s largest battery energy storage milestone in Africa to date, according to the organization.
Carol Koech, the alliance’s vice president for Africa, said the project would provide more reliable electricity to hospitals, schools, businesses and households while reducing the need for diesel generators.
“This project goes beyond batteries and megawatts — it is about what is possible when governments, financiers, and development partners align around a shared vision,” Koech said.
Malawi’s electricity system has faced persistent challenges, including grid instability, heavy reliance on hydropower, renewable energy curtailment and the high cost of diesel backup generation. The new storage facility is designed to store electricity and respond quickly to fluctuations in supply and demand, strengthening grid flexibility.
The project is part of the Global Energy Alliance’s Grids of the Future initiative, which seeks to modernize electricity networks and integrate renewable and distributed energy resources across emerging economies.
It also supports Malawi’s energy transition under its National Energy Compact, part of the Mission 300 initiative, which aims to expand electricity access across Africa.
The initiative includes the establishment of a Southern Africa Battery Energy Storage System Centre of Excellence at Mzuzu University to promote technical skills development and knowledge sharing on battery storage technology.
The Global Energy Alliance said the project could also create opportunities for Malawi to develop new revenue streams through ancillary grid services as renewable energy deployment expands in the region.
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