Sun Rise E&T Secures Prequalification for Lot A of Zimbabwe's Kariba Floating Solar Project

Taiwanese floating solar platform manufacturer Sun Rise E&T recently participated in the public tender for Zimbabwe's Kariba Floating Solar Project. According to the evaluation results under the Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) procedure GHP/FPV/REOI/001/2026, Sun Rise E&T has passed the prequalification assessment for Lot A, becoming the only qualified bidder for this lot.

According to an announcement on the project owner, Green Hybrid Power (GHP)' s official website[1], and confirmation from Sun Rise E&T, the company has received formal notification of its successful prequalification and will proceed to the next stage of the procurement process. However, prequalification does not constitute a contract award. The project will still be subject to due diligence and a formal tendering process.

According to the project owner's plans, GHP will conduct due diligence covering technical, financial, commercial, and project execution capabilities. Following confirmation of the project scope and schedule, further assessments will examine resource availability, production capacity, delivery schedules, warranty terms, and performance guarantees. GHP currently expects to select a preferred bidder in early 2027, followed by contract negotiations. The actual timeline remains subject to official announcements.

The first phase of the Kariba Floating Solar Project is planned to have approximately 500 MW of AC capacity, with an estimated DC installed capacity of 620–650 MWp. A second phase is expected to add another 500 MW. The project will adopt a floating structure made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) PE100 pipes, integrated with anchoring and mooring systems, and will be installed on Lake Kariba Reservoir, where the Kariba Hydropower Plant is located. If awarded the contract, Sun Rise E&T will serve as the floating platform supplier, supporting the project's timely and quality delivery.

Zimbabwe is rich in natural resources, including lithium, gold, platinum group metals, and chromite, with mining serving as a major pillar of its economy. However, rising electricity demand from industrial and mining activities, combined with declining water levels in Lake Kariba caused by climate change and drought, has intensified pressure on the country's electricity supply and demand balance. In response, the government is actively promoting renewable energy development to increase green electricity generation and improve power supply reliability through projects such as this one.

A consortium of electricity users, comprising major mining companies and other energy-intensive enterprises, has also contributed funding for preliminary feasibility studies and plans to purchase electricity through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), establishing a commercial foundation for the project.

Sun Rise E&T has been developing floating solar platform technologies since 2010. The company possesses research, development, and supply capabilities for both water-based and offshore systems, holds multiple international patents, and continues to expand its presence in international markets.

【About Sun Rise E&T Corporation】
Established in 1995, Sun Rise E&T is the world's third-largest manufacturer of solar floating systems by market share and a leading Asian brand in floating photovoltaic buoyancy systems. With more than 25 years of experience in offshore aquaculture cage systems and HDPE pipe manufacturing, the company has developed a proprietary anchoring system that serves as a key foundation for its manufacturing quality in the energy sector.
Since beginning its floating solar technology development in 2010, Sun Rise E&T has continuously advanced its technical capabilities and established itself as a trusted manufacturing partner for offshore solar photovoltaic systems. It is also the only manufacturer in Asia invited to participate in the revision of recommended guidelines by international certification body DNV GL, contributing to industry risk mitigation and the advancement of floating solar technology.

Reference:
[1] Green Hybrid Power (Pvt) Limited (GHP) is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) created by Intensive Energy User Group (IEUG) to implement the Kariba Floating Project. The company is owned through "Intensive Energy Investments", a wholly owned subsidiarity of IEUG Holdings (Pvt) Limited.
https://greenhybridpower.com/

Source: Sun Rise E&T Corporation
Compilation & Ttranslation: EnergyOMNI