Malawi commissions 20MW/40MWh battery storage system to cut grid curtailment

Malawi’s state utility, the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM), and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) commissioned a 20MW/40MWh battery storage system at the Kanengo substation in Lilongwe on July 24, 2026. The Malawi battery storage system was funded by a $20 million grant from GEAPP and is designed to unlock about 100MW of renewable generation capacity that had previously been curtailed on the national grid, according to Energy-Storage.News and Ecofin Agency, which both covered the commissioning ceremony.

Energy Minister Dr Jean Mathanga led the commissioning ceremony, and GEAPP’s Africa team, including Africa director Carol Koech, attended alongside ESCOM leadership. ESCOM Chief Executive William Kayipa said the project marks a shift in how the utility manages its grid. “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,” Kayipa said, according to Energy-Storage.News.

Why curtailment was the problem

Before the battery system came online, ESCOM had to hold back available solar and other variable renewable generation because the grid lacked a way to absorb it during periods of low demand or transmission congestion. Kayipa said the new system is “unlocking about 100MW of renewable generation that was previously constrained,” per Ecofin Agency’s report on the commissioning. GEAPP has said the project is expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions by more than 10,000 tonnes a year by reducing ESCOM’s reliance on diesel-fired backup generation.

The battery system was designed, procured and installed by JIVO Energy, and construction began following a groundbreaking ceremony in November 2024 that was attended by Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera. At that stage GEAPP described its contribution as “up to $20 million” in grant funding, while ESCOM’s own statement at the time cited a figure of $20.2 million; the difference reflects rounding in the two organizations’ releases rather than a change in the funding commitment.

Malawi’s grid has historically struggled with low electrification. A 2026 SDG7 energy progress report found that electricity access across the wider region lags far behind demand, underscoring why utilities such as ESCOM are prioritizing grid stability measures that let existing renewable capacity be used fully rather than curtailed. The Kanengo project also fits a broader pattern tracked in the IEA’s report on record global battery storage additions in 2025, as utilities in emerging markets increasingly pair batteries with variable renewable generation to manage grid stability.

About GEAPP

The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet is a coalition founded in 2021 by the Rockefeller Foundation, IKEA Foundation and Bezos Earth Fund to accelerate clean energy access in emerging economies. GEAPP works with national governments and utilities across Africa and Asia to fund grid infrastructure, off-grid electrification and renewable energy integration projects. In Malawi, GEAPP’s partnership with ESCOM began with a November 2024 groundbreaking for the Kanengo battery system and has now moved from construction to commissioning, with the utility citing the completed system as evidence that grid-scale storage can convert previously wasted renewable generation into usable electricity for Malawian consumers.

Sources: Energy-Storage.News; Ecofin Agency; GEAPP

Featured image: photo by Mark Stebnicki on Pexels (free Pexels license).

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Figen Sekin

I specialize in sustainability education, curriculum co-creation, and early-stage project strategy. At WINSS, I craft articles on sustainability, transformative AI, and related topics. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me chasing the perfect sushi roll, exploring cities around the globe, or unwinding with my dog Puffy — the world’s most loyal sidekick.