Modaso Energy and Tatanga Energy to build Zimbabwe's first utility-scale wind farm and hybrid site

228 MW Guruve-Mazowe hybrid project will combine wind, solar and battery storage behind a single 100 MW grid connection, with ZESA, the national utility, as the project’s primary offtaker alongside Zim GreenCo (Africa GreenCo), and Standard Bank appointed to arrange the debt.‍

Livingstone, 3 November 2026: Modaso Energy, a MISA Group company, and Zimbabwean developer Tatanga Energy announce their partnership to develop the Guruve-Mazowe (Chikonyora) Hybrid Renewable Energy Project in Mashonaland Central. Once built, it will be Zimbabwe's first utility-scale wind farm and the first project to combine wind, solar and battery storage on one site at a utility scale in sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) with the national utility as a key offtaker.

The project brings together 128 MW of wind, 100 MWac of solar PV and a 50 MW/100 MWh battery behind a single 100 MW connection to the national grid. It is expected to deliver around 550 GWh a year, equal to roughly 5% of Zimbabwe's current annual generation.  

Tatanga Energy originated the project and is the partner on the ground. It leads land, community, permitting and government engagement in Zimbabwe, and has done so since the wind measurement campaign began in 2021.

Modaso Energy leads technical development and structuring. It redesigned the original wind-only scheme as a wind, solar and storage hybrid, and is structuring the project’s offtake, contracting and debt financing towards financial close.

MISA Group, Modaso’s parent company, brings balance sheet strength and its network of financial relationships. It anchors the sponsor group, connects the project to international lenders, investors and risk-cover providers, and holds the partnership together on a single route to financial close. MISA Group is based in Geneva and has operated in Africa for more than 27 years, with activity in more than 25 countries and annual revenue above USD 5-billion.

“There is no shortage of renewable resources in Africa; but there is a shortage of electrons at the right place and the right time, and of bankable, high-quality projects. At MISA Group through Modaso Energy, we're changing that,” says Guy Hacking, CEO of MISA Group. “Everything we build is done in partnership, whether within MISA Group or with third parties. The Guruve-Mazowe Hybrid Renewable Energy Project demonstrates this: Tatanga Energy has developed a well-designed, high-quality project, but there was a huge opportunity for us to partner with them and add the technical, hybrid expertise of Modaso Energy while also putting MISA Group’s balance sheet and banking connections to work. With Modaso, we have a pipeline of over 1 GWh of renewable projects that sit behind this initial project, powered by our firm belief that Africa is not under-resourced, it's under-invested – and we exist to change that.”

Offtake and financing

ZESA, the national utility, is set to be the project's primary offtaker; negotiations on the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and Use of System Agreement are in progress. “At ZESA, our job is to deliver reliable power to every Zimbabwean home, farm and business. Through ZESA, we are working with Modaso and Tatanga to bring the Guruve-Mazowe project’s power onto our national grid. This will be Zimbabwe’s first utility-scale wind farm, and our country’s first project to combine wind, solar and battery storage. It means new clean power for Zimbabwe, and new skills for Zimbabweans. We are proud to help build it,” says Eng. Cletus Nyachowe, Group Chief Executive Officer, ZESA.

Africa GreenCo, through its Zimbabwean subsidiary ZimGreenCo, has also signed Heads of Terms to buy a share of the plant's output under a long-term contract. Additional output may be sold into the Southern African Power Pool.

“Zimbabwe needs new renewable generation that is reliable and bankable,” says Lion Mashiri, Managing Director for Zimbabwe at Africa GreenCo. “As a contracted buyer and trader, ZimGreenCo gives Guruve-Mazowe a second route to market alongside ZESA, with access to buyers across the Southern African Power Pool. That diversified revenue makes the project stronger for lenders and helps bring private investment into Zimbabwe’s power sector. A hybrid plant that delivers firm power from wind, solar and storage fits what the market needs. We are proud to support Tatanga Energy, Modaso Energy and MISA Group as they take the project to financial close.”

Standard Bank has been appointed lead arrangers for the project debt, and the debt term sheet has been agreed. The project represents an estimated USD 300-million of foreign direct investment into Zimbabwe.

“The Guruve-Mazowe project demonstrates the scale of investment opportunity available in Zimbabwe’s energy sector. The hybrid project is an innovative combination of wind, solar and battery storage as well as a diversified offtake strategy which has the potential to deliver reliable and sustainable power while supporting employment and broader economic growth. Standard Bank is pleased to have been appointed to arrange the project debt and bring its African market expertise to the transaction supporting the financing that can help translate this opportunity into additional generation capacity for Zimbabwe and the wider region,” adds Sherrill Byrne, Head of Project Finance at Standard Bank.

Financial close is targeted for mid-2027; construction would start immediately after, with commercial operation targeted for 2029.

Built for reliability

Wind and solar peak at different times of day. By pairing them with storage, the plant fills the midday gap in wind output and moves surplus energy into the morning and evening peaks, when national demand is highest. The design gives an average grid capacity factor above 60%, significantly better than that of wind or solar alone, and around 40% more energy from the same grid connection.  

The output does not depend on rainfall, Kariba water levels or imported hydrocarbons, promising to give Zimbabwe a source of power that complements its hydro and thermal fleet. The battery also provides fast-response grid support..

“Our mission at Modaso is to enable innovative hybrid developments that maximise the stability of power and utilisation to benefit communities, government, investors and offtakers alike,” says Ramy Lotfy, co-founder and CEO of Modaso Energy. “This project is an example of what true partnership can achieve. We have worked with Tatanga Energy to convert this from a single-source project to a commercially viable hybrid project, and together we’re excited to move this project into its next phase as we seek financial closure in 2027.”

“We were original developers in this project. It is something that is very near and dear to our hearts, ”says Memory Mashingaidze, co-founder and Director of Tatanga Energy. “We feel that we have the right partner in Modaso Energy and MISA Group, and we're now excited to be pushing towards financial close. The project not only promises to deliver renewable, reliable power to Zimbabweans and southern Africans, but as we move into construction we expect to improve local infrastructure, and provide thousands of jobs.”

Benefits for Zimbabwe

• An estimated 1,000 jobs during construction, with local preference for general labour agreed through community consultation.

• Skills transfer in wind and hybrid plant operation, a capability new to Zimbabwe.

• Around 0.5 million tonnes of CO₂ avoided a year (indicative, assuming thermal displacement).

• Around 11% of the National Renewable Energy Policy target of 2,100 MW by 2030.

• Road upgrades along the turbine transport route, paid for by the project and left as a permanent benefit.

• No resettlement required.