Construction of the 500MW solar PV plant and battery storage project in Maun has taken off, with Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) expecting the development to cut electricity costs and reduce reliance on imports.
The project, launched last week, is also expected to enhance security of supply, reduce the country’s carbon footprint and lower generation costs by displacing expensive imported power. It forms part of broader efforts to position Botswana as a net electricity exporter in the region.
The plant will be developed under an Independent Power Producer model by O-Green, a company owned by the Sultanate of Oman. During the ground-breaking ceremony, BPC and Okavango Solar, a subsidiary of O-Green, signed a 30-year power purchase agreement.
The development includes a 500MW solar PV plant and a 500MWh Battery Energy Storage System, with construction expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2029. A 2km 400kV transmission line will link the plant to the existing Mawana Substation.
BPC chief executive David Kgoboko said the project comes at a time when the utility is grappling with rising electricity costs, particularly during peak demand periods when power is imported from South Africa and Mozambique.
The battery storage system will allow energy generated during the day to be stored and used during evening and early morning peaks, easing pressure on imports and improving grid stability. The project aligns with government’s Integrated Resource Plan, which targets adding 1.3GW of renewable energy to the grid before 2030.