Botswana’s largest renewable energy project has moved closer to full operation after the second 60-megawatt phase of the Mmadinare Solar Cluster reached commercial operation.
The milestone brings the 120 MW project halfway into full output and strengthens Botswana’s effort to expand domestic power generation while reducing emissions from fossil fuel imports. It also marks tangible progress in the country’s transition toward utility-scale renewable energy.
The Mmadinare Solar Cluster is Botswana’s first grid-connected solar photovoltaic project of this scale. It is being developed under a 25-year power purchase agreement with Botswana Power Corporation, ensuring long-term offtake and revenue stability. The first 60 MW phase has been supplying electricity since March.
Once fully optimised, the two plants are expected to produce around 280 gigawatt-hours of electricity each year. Project estimates indicate this will avoid roughly 380,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, easing pressure on Botswana’s power mix, which has relied heavily on imports and thermal generation.
Electricity from the facility feeds into the national grid through a newly built 220 kilovolt substation and associated transmission infrastructure. The full development represents an investment of about P1.4 billion, or roughly $99 million, covering construction, financing, grid connection, and long-term operations.
The project is being developed by Norwegian independent power producer Scatec ASA, which currently owns the full portfolio. The company has indicated that it plans to dilute its long-term economic interest by bringing in additional equity partners as the project matures.
At the project’s launch in 2024, former President Mokgweetsi Masisi described the Mmadinare cluster as central to Botswana’s Vision 2036 agenda. That strategy places energy security and economic diversification at the core of national development, with solar power positioned as a practical response to rising demand and climate constraints.
Beyond generation capacity, the project has had visible effects at the local level. Construction activity has increased transport services, temporary employment, and demand for local businesses in Mmadinare. Residents have pointed to steady worker traffic and short-term jobs as early signs of economic spillover.
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Local leaders have also linked the project to wider infrastructure development in the area, including roads and public facilities tied to the site’s construction and operation.
Project representatives said the second phase was delivered ahead of schedule and within budget. For Botswana’s energy planners, that outcome matters. It suggests that large renewable projects can be executed reliably, reducing perceived risk and strengthening the case for further solar investment as part of the country’s long-term power strategy.
As solar takes a larger role in Botswana’s energy system, the Mmadinare cluster stands as a reference point—not only for capacity added, but for execution discipline and local impact.
By Thuita Gatero, Managing Editor, Africa Digest News. He specializes in conversations around data centers, AI, cloud infrastructure, and energy.