Zenith
High noon for Chiyaba: the phase that takes the site to its full 100 MW.
The second 56 MWac phase on the Chiyaba site, taking the plant to its full 100 MWac licence once the dedicated evacuation infrastructure is commissioned.
How Chiyaba connects.
Chiyaba will connect to the ZESCO 88 kV network at Gota Gota substation through dedicated evacuation infrastructure funded by Mpishi Energy under the Implementation Agreement, replacing the originally planned connection at 11 kV with a step-up to 88 kV. One fewer transformation stage, a direct route onto the transmission network, and a single connection point shared by Daybreak and Zenith.
- Solar + storage
- 11 kV connection
- Step-up to 88 kV
- Grid
- Solar + storage
- Plant substation
- Direct 88 kV line
- Gota Gota
- Connection voltage
- 88 kV
- Grid substation
- Gota Gota (ZESCO)
- Phase 1 export
- 44 MWac
- Full site
- 100 MWac after upgrade
Schematic, not to scale. Connection terms per the ZESCO Grid Connection Agreement and grid studies in the data room.
The project
Zenith shares Daybreak's land, licence, grid studies and environmental authorisation, which allows it to advance at a fraction of the usual cost and time. It shares the same 88 kV connection at Gota Gota substation, and energisation is sequenced behind the substation upgrade through a phased export commissioning condition agreed with the regulator. This structure preserves the full 100 MWac licence while keeping Phase 1 construction on its own critical path.
Status and approvals
- LicenceWithin the 100 MWac Chiyaba generation licence
- Environmental authorisation (ZEMA)Covered by site ESIA
- Grid studiesCompleted with ZESCO for full 100 MWac
- Export conditionPhased export commissioning · regulator engaged
- Evacuation infrastructureGota Gota substation upgrade · scoped, costed, contracted · Mpishi-funded
- Land tenureFreehold title · registered
- OfftakeSame PPA framework · heads of terms agreed · premium offtaker
Key figures
- Combined site output≈ 182.5 GWh / yr P50 (PVsyst, Solargis data)
- Grant supportEvacuation infrastructure grant in final review
- Storage20 MW / 40 MWh LFP, 2-hour (co-located) · shared BESS control architecture
- Project companyZenith Chiyaba Limited
Figures are indicative and subject to the financial model and technical reports in the data room. Generation and emissions estimates are set out in the technical reports in the data room.