The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is funding the assessment of a large-scale battery energy storage project in Zambia, which could grow into a 400MWh nationwide rollout.

The Department of Mineral Resource and Energy (DMRE) of South Africa has issued its request for proposals (RFP) for six battery storage projects totaling 513MW/2,052MWh, with a July deadline.

The US-based International Development Corporation (DFC) has provided a US$25 million loan for a solar-plus-storage project in Malawi with a 5MW/10MWh battery energy storage system (BESS).

Renewable developer Scatec and energy group EDF have signed a binding agreement with the government of Malawi to develop a hydropower plant with 309MW/7,000MWh of pumped hydro energy storage.

The World Bank has provided guarantees for US$24 million of equity and shareholder loan investments into a 20MW solar-plus-storage project in Malawi.

A solar and storage project totalling 20MW has entered commercial operation in Malawi, which the companies involved say is the first grid-connected utility-scale co-located project to do so in sub-Saharan Africa.

US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) funding has been allocated to feasibility studies for large-scale battery storage projects co-located with wind power in Senegal, west Africa and Mozambique, in southeastern Africa.

The UK pledges US$250 million for global energy storage as France and the Netherlands announce US$100 million for solar initiatives.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the government of Canada have formed a financial partnership that will utilise public funding to generate private sector investments to spur renewable energy, including energy storage, in Sub-Saharan Africa.