Presentation at Zimbabwe’s First

International Energy & Power Conference

on Tuesday 27th September 2011 by Nyikadzino Gonese

Agenda

• Background to Solar in Zimbabwe

• Solar Opportunities in Zimbabwe• Solar Solutions Required in

Zimbabwe• Hindrance to development of

solar industry in Zimbabwe• Proposed Way forward

Background to Solar in Zimbabwe

• 1992 GEF (Global Environment Fund) World Solar Summit held in Zimbabwe

• More than 50 solar companies formed and many rural installations done

• End of GEF Solar Project; closure of companies, no support for customers; lost confidence in solar

• GEF Lesson; passion; education key for prospects to appreciate the advantages of using solar; requisite skills for evaluation, design, installation, commissioning, warranty management, maintenance and on-going support key for the adoption of solar

Solar Opportunities in Zimbabwe

• 65% of sparse rural and farming communities

• Majority of Peri-urban families not also on the grid

• Urban dwellers experiencing severe power cuts

• Industry experiencing power shortages• HighIrradiation• Duty free 01/09/2010 (Except Batteries)

Solar Solutions Required in Zimbabwe :-

• Direct Current (DC) Solar Home Systems

• Solar powered cell-phones• Multi purpose DC solar chargers• Off-grid Alternating Current (AC)• Solar power plants; Concentrated

PhotoVoltaic (CPV) and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP); BIPV

Solar Solutions Required in Zimbabwe :-

• DC Solar Powered pumps for boreholes, wells, dams, irrigation, green houses etc

• DC Solar Powered Tobacco Curing Barns (50 000 small scale farmers)

• Solar Street Lights, Traffic Lights, garden lights

• Solar for billboard advertising, indoor and outdoor advertising

• Solar Solutions for telecommunications• Solar Solutions for Aviation, traffic and road

signs

Solar Solutions Required in Zimbabwe Cont :-

• DomesticSolar Hot Water Systems• IndustialSolar Hot Water Systems for

use in hospitals, schools, hotels, sporting clubs, industrial processes, and swimming pools

• Solar systems for drying fresh produce• Solar Refrigerators and deep freezers• Solar cookers• Solar and Wind Hybrids

Hindrance to development of solar industry in Zimbabwe

• Lack of supplier credit lines and trade finance.

• Local money expensive and short term

• No customer credit• “Cheap” Generators• Duty on Batteries• Lack of incentives

Hindrance to development of solar industry in Zimbabwe

Cont :-•Lack of education on solar

solutions •Lack of requisite skills in

evaluation, design, installation, commissioning and maintaining solar solutions

Proposed Way Forward

• Energy is the heart that pumps the blood of economic activity

• Removal of duties on batteries• Removal of VAT on solar products• Legislation on installation of solar geysers for

new buildings • Incentives for changing electric geysers to

solar• Channel REA funds to solar• Educate Everyone – “Time to Look to the Sun”

Mazvita

Siyabonga

Thank You