Chinese solar and storage solutions manufacturer Sungrow has reported that Zambia’s largest single solar PV project, the 136 MW Itimpi Phase II plant in Kitwe, came online on April 30.

Owned and operated by Zambia-based power infrastructure solutions provider Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC), the landmark facility is powered end-to-end by Sungrow’s SG350HX-20 string inverter and EMU200A energy management unit, delivered together with the project’s engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) partner.

With more than 80% of Zambia’s electricity coming from hydropower, Sungrow says the government of Zambia is actively integrating solar into the national grid to reduce exposure to drought and seasonal variability.

As the largest single PV plant ever delivered in the country, the company says Itimpi Phase II demonstrates how utility-scale solar can complement hydropower, stabilise generation across dry seasons and accelerate Zambia’s clean energy ambitions.

Sungrow notes that it offers Zambian customers the full breadth of its utility-scale portfolio, from string-inverter solutions to fully integrated turnkey medium-voltage station (‘all-in-one’) solutions, each with its own strengths depending on the project.

For Itimpi Phase II, CEC selected a string-inverter architecture as the best fit for the project’s design and the operator’s long-term plans.

The company explains that the SG350HX-20, paired with the EMU200A, delivers up to 99% efficiency, exceptional grid support under weak grid conditions (SCR ≥ 1.1), and full adaptability to Kitwe’s African savanna climate, with a −30 °C to 60 °C operating range, IP66 protection and C5 anti-corrosion rating.

“Sungrow is proud to support CEC on Itimpi Phase II, a project that will set a new benchmark for utility-scale solar in Zambia.

“By bringing our latest power conversion technology to one of Africa’s most important power markets, we are reinforcing our mission of ‘clean power for all’ and helping our partners build a more resilient and sustainable energy system,” says Sungrow Southern Africa region head Nigel Sun.

Sungrow notes that it has installed about 370 MW of inverter capacity in Zambia to date and continues to promote both string and turnkey MV Station solutions across sub-Saharan Africa.

“As Sungrow’s first project with CEC, Itimpi Phase II further consolidates the company’s position as a leading provider of PV power conversion technology in Zambia and a trusted partner for independent power producers across the region,” the company says in a media release.