Zambia is a landlocked country on a high plateau in south-central Africa, and for a long time its electricity story has been a story about water. Most of its grid power has come from hydropower on the Zambezi and other rivers. That works well in wet years, but droughts have shown the risk of depending on one source, and that is the main reason solar has moved up the agenda. This page sets out the general factors. For current figures and plans, check official sources such as the energy ministry, regulator and national utility.
Plateau sunshine
Much of Zambia sits at a comfortable altitude, with a long dry season of clear skies. Good sunshine and moderate temperatures are a helpful combination for solar panels, which work better when they are not too hot. The rainy season brings cloud, so output drops for some months, but the overall resource is strong across much of the country.
Wind: modest but worth measuring
Inland plateaus far from the sea often have moderate winds, and Zambia is not usually listed among Africa's windiest countries. Even so, some escarpments and open areas might have useful wind, and modern turbines with tall towers and long blades can make use of lower wind speeds than older designs. Measurement is the only way to know.
When the rivers run low
Hydropower depends on rainfall across the whole river basin. When rains fail, reservoirs drop and power stations cut output, which can mean long power cuts. Solar is attractive partly because dry years tend to be sunny years. Running solar during the day lets operators save water in the reservoirs for the evening and night.
Mines, cities and villages
Copper mining is a big electricity user, and mines need reliable, round-the-clock power. Some large users look at buying solar power directly. At the other end of the scale, many rural households are off-grid, and solar home systems and mini-grids are a practical way to reach them.
Shared rivers, shared grids
Zambia shares the Zambezi with its neighbours and is linked to them through the southern African power pool. That allows trading, but it also means a regional drought affects several countries at once. A wider mix of sources helps.
Compare and continue
Read the neighbouring notes on Zimbabwe, Malawi and Tanzania, see batteries and storage, or go back to Country Notes.