Eswatini kicks off first project under national 75-MW solar scheme

• Kingdom of Eswatini launches its first project in a 75-MW program.

Eswatini has launched the inaugural project in its 75-MW solar procurement program, a milestone for a small grid that’s long relied on imported electricity. By sequencing construction-ready sites and standardizing contracts, the initiative aims to add dependable daytime capacity, lower wholesale costs, and build local engineering capability—foundations for broader electrification and economic development.

The model borrows proven ideas: bankable PPAs, clear interconnection milestones, and competitive bidding that still leaves room for quality. Expect modern technical specs—bifacial modules on trackers, string inverters, and robust plant controllers tuned for frequency/voltage support on weaker networks. Over time, co-located storage can shift late-afternoon energy into the evening and provide grid-forming services that reduce blackouts during contingencies.

Local content and training will matter. Programs that bring technicians into commissioning and O&M create durable jobs while improving availability. With development finance institutions increasingly targeting high-impact, smaller grids, Eswatini’s approach could draw concessional funding that further trims tariffs.

It’s early days, but the template is promising: modest in size, strong on execution, and replicable across Southern Africa where sunlight is abundant but capacity additions have lagged.