By Archford Chirimudombo
Harare, (New Ziana) -Geneva-based MISA Group subsidiary Modaso Energy and Zimbabwean developer Tatanga Energy on Tuesday jointly announced plans to build a 228-MegaWatt (MW) utility-scale wind farm and hybrid project in Guruve-Mazowe, Mashonaland Central province.
The project will combine wind, solar and battery storage behind a single 100 MW grid connection, with the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) as the project’s primary offtaker alongside Zim GreenCo (Africa GreenCo), and Standard Bank appointed to arrange the debt.
Announcing the development, Modaso Energy and Tatanga Energy said once built, the hybrid project will be Zimbabwe’s first utility-scale wind farm and the first project to combine wind, solar and battery storage on one site at a utility scale in sub-Saharan Africa.
The project brings together 128 MW of wind, 100 MWac of solar PV and a 50 MW/100 MWh battery behind a single 100 MW connection to the national grid. It is expected to deliver around 550 GWh a year, equal to roughly 5 percent of Zimbabwe’s current annual generation.
Tatanga Energy originated the project and is the partner on the ground, leading land, community, permitting and government engagement in Zimbabwe, and has done so since the wind measurement campaign began in 2021, while Modaso Energy leads technical development and structuring.
MISA Group brings balance sheet strength and its network of financial relationships, anchoring the sponsor group, connecting the project to international lenders, investors and risk-cover providers, and holds the partnership together on a single route to financial close.
“There is no shortage of renewable resources in Africa; but there is a shortage of electrons at the right place and the right time, and of bankable, high-quality projects. At MISA Group through Modaso Energy, we’re changing that.”
“Everything we build is done in partnership, whether within MISA Group or with third parties. The Guruve Mazowe Hybrid Renewable Energy Project demonstrates this: Tatanga Energy has developed a well-designed, high-quality project, but there was a huge opportunity for us to partner with them and add the technical, hybrid expertise of Modaso Energy while also putting MISA Group’s balance sheet and banking connections to work. With Modaso, we have a pipeline of over 1 GWh of renewable projects that sit behind this initial project, powered by our firm belief that Africa is not under-resourced; it’s under-invested – and we exist to change that,” MISA Group chief executive Guy Hacking said.
ZESA group chief executive officer Eng Cletus Nyachowe said the national utility is set to be the project’s primary offtaker and that negotiations on the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and Use of System Agreement are in progress.
“At ZESA, our job is to deliver reliable power to every Zimbabwean home, farm and business. Through ZESA, we are working with Modaso and Tatanga to bring the Guruve-Mazowe project’s power onto our national grid. This will be Zimbabwe’s first utility-scale wind farm, and our country’s first project to combine wind, solar and battery storage. It means new clean power for Zimbabwe, and new skills for Zimbabweans,” he said.
ZimGreenCo managing director Lion Mashiri said as a contracted buyer and trader, the company gives Guruve-Mazowe a second route to market alongside ZESA, with access to buyers across the Southern African Power Pool.
He said the diversified revenue makes the project stronger for lenders and helps bring private investment into Zimbabwe’s power sector.
Standard Bank head of project finance Sherrill Byrne said the project represents an estimated US$300 million of foreign direct investment into Zimbabwe.
Financial close is targeted for mid-next year and construction would start immediately after, with commercial operation targeted for 2029.
Some of the project’s benefits for Zimbabwe include an estimated 1 000 jobs during construction, skills transfer in wind and hybrid plant operation, around 0.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) avoided a year (indicative, assuming thermal displacement), 11 percent of the National Renewable Energy Policy target of 2,100 MW by 2030, road upgrades along the turbine transport route which will be paid for by the project and left as a permanent benefit.
New Ziana
