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World Bank seeks company to study pumped hydropower storage in SAPP

World Bank seeks company to study pumped hydropower storage in SAPP
(photo courtesy SAPP)

The World Bank has issued a business opportunity, to complete an analytical study on the conceptual role and economic viability of pumped hydropower storage in the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP).

This solicitation, issued April 15, is called Assessment of the Conceptual Role and Economic Viability of Pumped Hydropower Storage (PHS) in the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP).

The SAPP was created in 1995, and the vision is “to be a fully integrated, competitive energy market and a provider of sustainable energy solutions for the SADC region and beyond.” The SADC (Southern African Development Community) has a goal “to achieve development, peace and security, and economic growth, to alleviate poverty, enhance the standard and qualify of life of the people of Southern Africa, and support the socially disadvantaged through regional integration, built on democratic principles and equitable and sustainable development.” Member states are Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The objectives of this analytical study are to assess the conceptual role and economic viability of PHS in SAPP through identifying and quantifying the costs; benefits and value that enhance energy security; climate resilience and facilitate a low carbon transition in the region and countries, per the website.

The key questions to address in the study are what role and value PSH has in a broader energy sector point of view. Should it be considered an energy generation plant or an energy service facility tailored to meeting the demands of the evolving power system?       

The opportunity (solicitation number 0002007347) closes May 8, 2024.