• Tanzania delays Kishapu solar project first 50 MW to Q1 2026

• Grid integration challenges cited despite AFD-backed network upgrades

• Project highlights need for grid modernization as solar expands

The Kishapu solar project, seen as a key step in diversifying Tanzania’s electricity mix, has had the commissioning of its first 50 MW phase postponed to the first quarter of 2026.
 Developed by the state utility TANESCO and supported by €130 million in funding from the French Development Agency (AFD), the plant was initially expected to enter service in late 2024 or early 2025.

According to SolarQuarter, Tanzanian authorities blame the delay on difficulties integrating solar power into the national grid. The variable output of photovoltaic generation requires technical upgrades to ensure system stability, which the government says is a priority.

This issue was already factored into the AFD-backed project. The financing agreement covers both the 50 MW solar plant and the modernization of TANESCO’s transmission and distribution network.

The program includes digital grid management tools and the creation of a national control center in Dodoma, along with regional centers in Arusha, Mwanza, and Mbeya. A further €0.7 million grant was awarded to strengthen Tanzania’s ability to manage a grid with intermittent renewables.

Kishapu reflects a broader trend highlighted by the International Energy Agency (IEA). In its Integrating Solar and Wind report published in September 2024, the IEA warns that the rapid expansion of solar and wind will require more flexible power systems. Without investment in networks, storage, and dispatchable generation, up to 15% of global solar and wind output could be curtailed by 2030.

The Kishapu project underlines that expanding solar capacity must go hand in hand with grid upgrades. As Tanzania seeks to diversify its mix and reduce reliance on natural gas, which accounted for 70% of electricity generation in 2023, it will need to modernize its network.

Abdoullah Diop