Renewable energy developer Access Power has secured grant funding from the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) for its 130 MW wind power project in Zambia.

The USTDA grant will go towards funding the feasibility study and costs related to the development of the project, which Access is developing in conjunction with EREN Renewable Energy.

Reda El Chaar, Executive Chairman of Access Power said: “Today, there are no wind projects in Zambia. We are therefore very excited to begin working with USTDA to bring this pioneering project to life and open up this promising sector of Zambia’s economy. This undertaking further solidifies our commitment in providing viable and sustainable solutions for the urgent electrification of Africa.”

Electricity in Zambia has historically been generated from hydroelectric sources, which currently account for 96 per cent of the country’s electricity production. The recent prolonged droughts in Southern Africa have resulted in power shortages, with load shedding for up to 8 hours a day.

Access Power’s wind farm will be completed in 2019 and will be one of the largest renewable energy projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. It will increase Zambia’s power generation capacity by six per cent.