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Golomoti Solar PV and Battery Energy Storage Project

Malawi’s first solar PV and battery storage project; delivering clean energy, jobs, and community upliftment while respecting the land it stands on.

Client

Golomoti JCM Solar Corporation

Project date

January 2010 - December 2023

Completed in 2021, the Golomoti Solar PV and Battery Energy Storage Project is more than just a civil engineering achievement. It’s a story of how creativity, empathy, and sustainability merged to deliver best-of-class renewable energy to one of the world’s poorest nations, touching the earth lightly while making a lasting impact.
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The opportunity

Malawi, a landlocked country with significant energy poverty, needed solutions to revitalise its power supply, reduce poverty, and lower business costs. The Golomoti project was designed to supply the national grid with 20 MW of much-needed renewable energy while encouraging private investment in the energy sector. Challenges included poor ground conditions, a constrained and irregular site, and the need to integrate community and environmental sensitivities.
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What we did

Zutari, as Engineer for the project, undertook the detailed design of the 28.5 MWp solar PV and 5 MW/10MWh battery energy storage system (BESS), delivering 20 MW of power to the grid. Zutari’s scope included:

  • Site identification and concept development

  • Tender and procurement support

  • Preliminary and detailed design

  • Civil works, geotechnical investigation, and electrical design

  • Project execution and construction support


The project was the first to use Zutari’s in-house computational design tool, 7SecondSolar, enabling rapid design iterations and optimisation. This tool allowed for cost and time savings, with dynamic 3D modelling used to visualise the site, track solar movement, and prevent panel shading.
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The solar PV plant was custom-designed to honour the Baobab tree, adapting to the site’s unique shape and conditions while ensuring the tree’s preservation and flourishing.

The outcome

The Golomoti Solar PV plant now provides 20 MW of renewable power to Malawi’s national grid, supporting government utility ESCOM in addressing power shortages and promoting private sector investment. Construction created more than 550 jobs, 85% of which were filled by Malawians, and the project continues to deliver social benefits through a Social and Economic Development Plan focused on women’s empowerment, health, sanitation, and sustainable livelihoods.

The result was a custom-designed solar PV plant that paid homage to the Baobab tree and adapted to the site’s complexities, enabling optimised energy production while ensuring the tree flourished.
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By integrating local culture, environmental sensitivity, and cutting-edge technology, the Golomoti Solar PV project became a symbol of what’s possible when infrastructure is guided by empathy and innovation.

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