Milicent Chidamba shares her passion for Africa’s energy transformation during Woman’s Month

• During womans month, I caught up with Milicent Chidamba, Sales Deputy Director-SADC Region for JinkoSolar who shared her journey as a woman leader in the energy sector plus shared updates on the groundbreaking Tiger Neo 3.0 across SADC and other key African markets.

Hi Millicent, as we celebrate Women’s Month this August, what does this time of year mean to you personally and professionally?

Women’s Month is a time of reflection and celebration. Personally, it reminds me of the strength and resilience of the women both in my family, my community, in the industry and of course in Jinko Solar. Professionally, it’s a moment to amplify the voices of women in energy and renew our commitment to gender equity in leadership, mentoring and innovation.

You’ve built an impressive career in the solar industry, what inspired your journey into renewable energy, and what has kept you passionate about it?

I have always shared this story before that the bug hit me off in Germany when I  was on a GIZ Leadership Programme & we went for an Excursion and  was pretty impressed on how far they had gone with the deployment of PV in a country where literally they had half of our sunshine, yet in Africa we have all this sunshine and by then nothing was being done to harness that energy at a commercial scale (.. I shall not say the years though as that will point to my age ..chuckle). That is how the journey began and has evolved with a deep desire to be part of Africa’s transformation of which Energy plays an important role. Renewable energy offers a way to make a tangible impact—bringing power to communities, driving sustainability, and creating economic opportunities. What keeps me passionate is seeing how solar technology changes lives, especially in the remotest parts of the continent.

Women remain underrepresented in the energy sector, especially in technical and leadership roles. What challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them?

Generally, life is about challenges, however for women they become amplified to a greater extent due to inherent societal, perceptions, systemic and cultural limitations. Leadership roles in energy are still male-dominated, and mentorship opportunities are limited. I overcame these by being a rock on my own, with self-belief that yes, I can do it, building strong networks, staying informed, and mentoring other women to rise with me. But I must also mention that over a Decade in the Industry, I have also witnessed progress in terms of women grabbing more seats at the Table.

How do you think companies like Jinko Solar can help empower more women within the solar and broader energy sector? 

Jinko Solar is committed to diversity and inclusion. It has offered us as women such a great platform where we have a good work life balance. Jinko Solar is continuously investing in education, mentorship, and leadership development to ensure women thrive across the value chain.

Jinko Solar recently introduced the Tiger Neo 3.0 series, what makes this product different from its predecessors, and why is it significant for the Sub-Saharan African market? 

Oh yes we are super excited about it and as Leaders in Innovation, our Tiger Neo 3.0 is built on next-gen Topcon technology, offering up to 670W output and 24.8% efficiency. It’s designed for high performance in hot, humid, and low-light conditions—perfect for Sub-Saharan Africa’s climate. Its durability and cost-effectiveness make it ideal for both utility-scale and commercial projects. 

What are the most exciting benefits or innovations embedded in the Tiger Neo 3.0 that customers in the SADC region should know about?

• High bifaciality: bifacial rate of up to 85±5%, which is currently the highest mass-produced bifacial rate in the industry, significantly higher than other mass-produced TOPCon products. This serves as the foundation for the higher rear-side gain of the 3.0 modules.
• Low degradation: The linear degradation rate of the 3.0 module has been reduced from 0.4% in the 2.0 series to 35%. The 30-year power warranty has also improved from 87.4% to 88.85%.
• Superior low-light performance: , the modules start producing power earlier in the day, continue generating longer into the evening, and deliver higher total output
• Optimized temperature coefficient: -The maximum power temperature coefficient has been improved from -0.29% to -0.26%, while the temperature coefficients of open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current have been optimized to -0.24% and 0.046%, respectively. These enhancements reduce power loss under high-temperature conditions and improve overall performance in hot environments.
• High Efficiency & High Power –Maximum cell efficiency of 24.8%, and maximum module power of 670W.

These features translate to lower Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) and better ROI for SADC customers.

How is Jinko Solar positioning itself to support energy access, sustainability, and economic development in Africa through products like the Tiger Neo 3.0?

Jinkosolar is actively positioning itself as a catalyst towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all—through its expanding operations across Africa and offering its advanced Tiger Neo 3 Solar Modules. We have supplied our panels to almost every country on the Continent helping to address widespread electricity shortages and unreliable grid infrastructure.

From your experience, how are businesses and governments in the SADC region responding to advanced solar technologies like the Tiger Neo 3.0?

Governments and businesses in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are increasingly receptive to cutting-edge solar technologies like Tiger Neo 3.0. Here’s what’s happening. From a Policy perspective, many SADC countries are updating their Energy Policies to include incentives for high-efficiency solar modules and grid integration of renewables. We have also witnessed some Public-Private Partnerships; whereby Governments are partnering with companies to deploy solar farms and mini-grids, especially in rural areas.

From Business side, Developers / IPPS are embracing Tiger Neo 3.0 for its high output and reliability, which reduces project costs and improves ROI. Then the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) segment increased its upward trend. Businesses are installing these modules to cut energy costs, for self-reliance and meet sustainability targets, especially in mining, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors.

Can you speak on how your team is driving awareness, adoption, and education around Jinko’s newest technologies across the region?

We have a diverse team based in different countries with the SADC region to ensure proximity to our clients. We host webinars, technical training, and on-ground support across the region.  We are soon to launch Jinko Academy in different countries to offer training on Tiger Neo 3.0 and TOPCon technology. We also collaborate with Universities and Energy Associations to build a skilled workforce. Just recently we had the honour to exhibit at the 8^th SADC Industrialisation Week in Madagascar, where we were promoting Tiger Neo 3.

Looking ahead, how do you envision the next generation of women shaping the renewable energy Industry in Africa?

Women bring unique perspectives to energy planning, community engagement, and innovation. As more women enter STEM and leadership roles, we’ll see smarter, more inclusive energy solutions. I envision more women leading solar startups, managing grid-scale projects, and influencing policy.

Finally, what does it mean to you to represent Jinko Solar, not just as a sales deputy director in the SADC region, but also as a woman driving commercial strategy, leading teams, and helping shape the business landscape of the solar industry in Africa?

It’s truly an honour and I’m proud to be part of Jinko Solar which is more than just a workplace. It has given me both the opportunity to grow professionally and personally. The culture, the values, the energy is just infectious. Leading commercial strategy in SADC means I get to shape how solar is deployed across diverse markets—and as a woman, I hope my journey inspires others to lead boldly and break barriers.

Thank you Mili, I am grateful for your time. Happy Womans Month to you and to all woman in Africa.

Author: Bryan Groenendaal