Malawi banks on local innovation for energy access

Powering Malawi’s Growth: Harnessing Homegrown Solutions for a Vibrant Economy

Post was last updated: November 18, 2025

Key Business Points

  • Renewable energy innovations are being developed locally to tackle Malawi’s chronic energy challenges, with a focus on reducing dependence on biomass and easing pressure on the national grid.
  • Collaboration between universities, government, and the private sector is crucial in scaling up affordable technologies for clean cooking and off-grid electrification, with the Africa-Norway Energy Technology Network playing a key role.
  • Financing remains a major barrier to the growth of renewable energy technologies in Malawi, with companies like Green Impact Technologies highlighting the need for investment to take innovations to the next level.

Malawi’s business community is poised to benefit from locally developed renewable energy technologies, which are being developed to address the country’s chronic energy challenges. At a recent regional meeting in Lilongwe, researchers and policymakers showcased innovations aimed at reducing dependence on biomass and easing pressure on the national grid. The meeting, hosted under the Africa-Norway Energy Technology Network, brought together universities from Malawi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Norway to focus on scaling up affordable technologies for clean cooking and off-grid electrification.

According to Professor Ishmael Kosamu, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (Mubas), "zithetezo za njira za nkhani" (technologies presented) could help solve some of Malawi’s most pressing household and institutional energy problems. Professor Ole Jørgen Nydal from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology highlighted the development of small-scale technologies that can store energy during the day for cooking at night, which are ready for piloting in Malawi after successful trials in Uganda.

However, financing remains a major challenge for companies like Green Impact Technologies, which are working to develop and scale up renewable energy technologies. Managing Director Admore Chiumia emphasized the need for investment to take innovations to the next level. On the other hand, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining is working to create an environment that allows such technologies to thrive, with Deputy Director for Off-Grid Electrification Saidi Banda highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting "makampeni a za njira za nkhani" (energy companies).

As Malawi’s business community continues to navigate the challenges of energy access, "kujitoleza kwa nkhani" (energy commitment) from government, universities, and the private sector is crucial in driving innovation and investment in the sector. With the right support and financing, renewable energy technologies have the potential to transform the way Malawians access energy, creating new opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive.

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Vanessa Banda
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