Malawi is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa neighbouring Zambia, the United Republic of Tanzania, and Mozambique.  With a population of around 20 million people, 51% of whom are under 18, Malawi is one of the most densely populated and youthful countries in southern Africa.

Policy and planning in Malawi is guided by the Vision 2063 framework, launched in 2020, with its stated aspiration that Malawi will become an upper-middle income country (UMIC). The National Planning Commission (NPC) was created as an independent body responsible for the implementation of the vision.  For the period 2021-2030, the NPC have set up the Malawi Implementation Plan 1 (MIP-1) with the overarching goals of becoming a middle-income country and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

MIP is built around 3 pillars (Agriculture Productivity and Commercialization, Industrialization, Urbanization) with a supporting set of 7 Enablers, each having a range of objectives.

Energy, Generation and Supply comes under Enabler 6, Economic Infrastructure, where the stated objective is to increase energy access by diversifying sources of energy, including renewable and sustainable energy.  A 2030 target of 50% of the population having electricity access is to be achieved through renewed focus on Rural Electrification, whilst adding 1979 MW of generation. This is largely to be achieved by pursuing large Hydro and Coal generation projects, with 145MW of solar also included. The target appears to be focussed on national grid and mini/micro grid installed generation. 

Malawi has indigenous energy resources: hydro, coal, geothermal, natural gas, solar, wind and biomass. At present around 85.7% of energy consumed is biomass, 10.2% from oil products, 3.3% from hydro and solar and the remainder from a mix of the other sources.  The NPC reported an installed capacity of 590MW in 2020, including mini-grid and solar independent power producer (IPP) grid connected projects.  However, grid connected generation was reduced following cyclone damage and reduction of diesel connected generation.  In 2023, Malawi had reported 441.55 Installed Capacity (MW) and 349.65 Available Capacity (MW), primarily hydro with 1.3MW solar.

Electricity access in 2023 is estimated at around 20% of the population (15% on-grid and 5% off-grid).

The Malawi National Energy Policy (2018) is the high-level policy document which guides the sector. It sets out governing laws and regulations and strategic sector-specific priorities.

A dedicated Renewable Energy Strategy (2018) accompanies the NEP.

Relevant targets set out in the NEP and RES are:

• Renewable electricity represents 11% of the total energy mix by 2020 and 23% of the energy mix by 2035
• Access to electricity for every citizen in the country by the year 2030
• Ensure 100% of schools and health centres  have access to modern, sustainable energy solutions by 2025
• Establish at least 50 renewable energy mini-grids by 2025

Other relevant planning documents include:

• National Electrification Plan 2019
• Mini-grid Regulatory Framework 2019

Other key policies, laws, and regulations linked to the National Energy Policy are:

• Amended Electricity Act (2016)
• Rural Electrification Bill (2004)
• Electricity Act (2004)

The development and operation of the Malawian energy sector involves a range of institutions, including, Government Ministries, Government-owned corporate entities and regulatory bodies.

The Government of Malawi’s Ministry of Energy is responsible for: the formulation and coordination of energy policies, planning, information communication and technology; the provision of rural electrification services; the provision of alternative energy and energy conservation services; and coordination of research and development in the sector.

Re-organised in 2023, the Ministry is organised around two key energy vectors: Liquid Fuel and Gases, and Electricity.

The Department of Electricity comprises of 3 divisions and 2 sections:

• Generation and Independent Power Production Division
• Transmission and Distribution Division
• Off-Grid Division
• Rural Electrification Division
• Generation Section
• Independent Power Producers Section

Other key institutions involved in the Malawian energy sector include:

• The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA): a corporate body established to provide energy sector-wide regulation, including responsibility for licensing of operators, approving tariffs and promoting the interest of consumers.
• The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limited: A state-owned company mandated to transmit, distribute and supply electricity throughout Malawi. Its licensed business areas are Transmission, Distribution, Single Buyer, and, System and Market Operator (SMO) - all licensed by the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA).
• Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO): A state-owned company unbundled from ESCOM in 2016, separating the generation business from the vertically integrated utility. They currently operate a total installed generation capacity of 441.95MW, with 390.55MW from hydro power plants and 51.4MW from standby diesel power plants.
• Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS): responsible for formulating national standards for measuring the quality, performance or fitness for intended use of a product or service. The Engineering and Materials Division are responsible for standards relating to the energy sector.

Industry Bodies 

The Renewable Energy Industries Association of Malawi (REIAMA) 

The mission of REIAMA is to promote renewable energy technologies (RETs) in a sustainable manner to the satisfaction of consumers in Malawi. The Association draws its membership from across the private sector, academia and the Non-Governmental Organisation community, covering all aspects of RETs in Malawi, including promotion, production, supply, importation, exportation, installation, and servicing, and collaborating with key sectoral projects and programmes.

The Cooperation Network for Renewable Energy in Malawi (CONREMA)

Provides an exchange and learning platform for all stakeholders involved in the design, implementation and analysis of energy projects in the country or in related policies and strategies. Registration to the network is free and open to all with a proven interest and the readiness to share information with other network members.

Academia

Malawi has 4 main public universities and numerous private universities.

The main universities with active interests in teaching and research on renewable energy are:

Mzuzu University (Mzuni)

Based in Northern Malawi, Mzuni has Faculty of Science Technology and Innovation with a Department of Energy Systems that offers a BSc in Renewable Energy Technologies. Mzuni also hosts the Test and Training Centre for Renewable Energy Technologies (TCRET).

Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST)

Based in Thyolo, Southern Malawi, MUST host the Malawi Institute of Technology (MIT) and provide a range of engineering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Malawi University of Applied Science and Business (MUBAS)

Formerly the Blantyre Polytechnic under the University of Malawi, MUBAS offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate renewable energy courses, up to PhD level.  MUBAS also hosts the Centre for Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Appropriate Technology Development (WASHTED) who have been a key partner in Scottish Government-funded renewables projects since 2008.

Malawi Rural Electrification Programme (MAREP) 

MAREP is a department set up within ESCOM to implement the Malawi Rural Electrification Programme which is funded by the Government of Malawi and the World Bank. The programme focuses on extension of the national grid and is implemented in phases.  MAREP is currently delivering phase 9 of the programme.

Malawi Electricity Access Project (MEAP)

MEAP is being implemented by the Ministry of Energy and the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Ltd., with support and financing from the World Bank (approx. $150m).  The 5-year project, launched in January 2020, has three components:

• Grid electrification – focussing on facilitating increased household connections to existing grid distribution infrastructure (grid densification).
• Off-grid market development fund – providing results-based financing for solar home system suppliers, and funding feasibility studies for ten mini-grid sites.
• Technical assistance – ensuring stakeholders have adequate technical, planning, and operational capacity to implement the electrification roll-out, including the production of a high level geospatial least-cost electrification plan and power systems analysis of the grid.

African Minigrids Program (AMP)

AMP is a regional energy access program which is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), led by The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and the African Development Bank, to advance off-grid and mini-grid developments.  Working with existing off-grid and mini-grid initiatives, AMP focuses on innovative business models to stimulate economic development by targeting productive users and ensuring cost-effective delivery of electricity.

Accelerating access to sustainable energy in Malawi

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Energising Development (EnDev) Malawi programme, is an initiative co-financed by The European Union (EU), Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) and Icelandic Embassy in Malawi.  Activities include funding 4 large-scale pilot investments for PUE solutions in agriculture, financing demand-side subsidies (DSS) for improved cookstoves and solar products, financial support for the solarisation of schools and health institutions including deployment of solar-powered refrigerators for vaccine cooling, and the promotion of fuel-efficient fish processing stoves.

Scaling Renewables in Malawi to Underpin Development

Led by the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, this programme focuses on assisting Malawi in achieving universal access to electricity by 2030. The main focus of the programme is the deployment of a 20MW utility-scale grid-integrated battery energy storage system. 

Green Economic Transition Facility (GETF)

With funding support from Irish Aid and the German Development Bank, GETF supports private sector co-financing opportunities. Under themes of ‘Accelerating Alternative Sources of Energy and Fuel-Efficient Solutions’ and ‘Accelerating Green Business’, the GETF aims to test commercial viability of new products, services, technologies and business models in the green business sector.