With mining contributing around 10% of Zambia’s GDP, and agriculture employing almost 50% of the country’s workforce, the supply of power to each of these industries is critical in ensuring ongoing economic growth.

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Failing management of the Zambia’s existing traditional hydropower generation plants however means that power shortages have been prevalent since 2015, with new power generation capacity urgently needed at a range of scales to support domestic and industrial supply.

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Working with its in-country partners, AEL has now defined a pathway for bringing HKS.r technology to Zambia, starting with smaller individual installations at several farms located in the Copperbelt, and expanding thereafter to supply energy farms servicing the mining industry.

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The Lake View Farm project will seek to deploy up to 600kW of HKS.r generation capacity at a commercial wheat farm, to power its crop irrigation equipment and onsite processing facilities.

The Lake View Farm project will seek to deploy up to 600kW of HKS.r generation capacity at a commercial wheat farm across a series of locations on the Kafue river that flows through the property. The electricity generated will be used to power the farm’s water pumps and centre-pivot irrigation systems, as well as supplying energy to the farm buildings and workshops.

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AEL undertook a survey of the Kafue river at Lake View Farm in July 2024, identifying a series of potential HKS.r deployment sites, and measuring water flow and river depth.

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The company has agreed to deliver a modular HKS.r design suited to the river locations, with the first 50kW trial unit to be installed during 2025.