Malawi launches net metering to support residential solar power

The Malawi Ministry of Energy and the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) launched a net metering scheme to encourage households and businesses to install solar power systems.

The new rules allow residents and companies to produce their own electricity and sell any extra power back to the national grid. Minister of Energy Jean Mathanga stated the move aims to lower the country's reliance on traditional energy sources while making electricity more affordable and sustainable.

The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) began implementing the scheme in May 2026. A pilot program started with 34 prosumers, which are people who both produce and consume electricity, generating about 3.9 MW of power together. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) also helped demonstrate how the system works through a solar installation connected to the grid.

While the framework exists, the government has not yet clarified how much the scheme will be available to all customers or what the specific compensation rules will be. To support these changes, Malawi recently opened a 20 MW battery storage facility in Lilongwe to help stabilize a grid that previously struggled with instability and a heavy dependence on hydropower.