Scaling Solar is a World Bank Group (WBG) program developed to make it faster, easier, and cheaper for developing countries to procure utility-sized private solar power. Scaling Solar was designed around the premise that grid scale solar could be accelerated by incorporating three basic elements: i) transparent, competitive tendering, ii) pre-negotiated and bankable template project and procurement documents, which are fair and balanced to all parties, and iii) package of WBG support to Governments and private sector developers from project inception to financial close to operations.

Negotiated deals with high tariffs were the status quo in Sub-Saharan Africa at the time when Scaling Solar was developed – in Zambia, the typical rate offered to the Government in unsolicited proposals at the time IFC signed its advisory mandate was 12 c/kWh – in less than a year, that was halved to 6 c/kWh through transparent competition. Similarly, the tenders in Senegal and Uzbekistan each set new benchmarks in their respective countries (3.80 and 3.98 Euro cents per kilowatt hour for two projects in Senegal and 2.7 US cents per kilowatt hour in Uzbekistan Round 1 and 1.791 and 1.823 US cents per kilowatt hour for two projects in Uzbekistan Round 2).

We believe this formula – whether delivered through the Scaling Solar program or not – remains the best way for governments to scale renewables and achieve value for money. To date, Scaling Solar programs have awarded almost 700MW in 3 countries (Zambia, Senegal, and Uzbekistan). The plants in Zambia and Senegal are operational and the plants in Uzbekistan are either under construction or have secured financing and will commence with construction shortly. Additional Scaling Solar mandates for more than 300MW are ongoing in four other countries and are at various stages of project preparation or procurement.