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Zimbabwe plans to install floating solar panels at at least two of the countrys
dams, including Lake Kariba as the country plans to increase its electricity supply.
At a press briefing in Harare this week, the countrys secretary for Energy and Power Development, Gloria Magombo, confirmed an initial 150MW of solar will be installed on the surface of Lake Kariba by early 2025.
"This is just the beginning," Magombo was quoted by local press.
She also told reporters that the private sector has applied to the government to install a further 600MW of floating solar capacity.
Magombo did not disclose who the interested parties are, but confirmed plans for a similar installation at the Mutirikwi Dam.
Feasibility study into floating solar panels for Lake Kariba
The announcement this week follows a tender published by the the African Development Bank (AfDB) in May for a feasibility study to be conducted for floating solar projects on Lake Kariba.
The AfDB invited consulting firms to "indicate their interest in providing services under the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA)s Africa Hydropower Modernisation Programme (AHMP) to support the Bank and its clients as consultants for the preparation of: Feasibility study for Floating Solar Project on the Lake Kariba reservoir."
The Zambezi River Authority (the Authority) is the bilateral organisation owned by the Republics of Zambia and Zimbabwe and mandated to operate, monitor, and maintain the Kariba Dam Complex as well as develop the full hydropower potential on the shared portion of the Zambezi River.
Citing a severe drought recently, it has had to reduce the water allocation for hydroelectric power generation.
In a 3 June 2024 update, the Authority said: "Notably, the lake level has continued to be lower compared to the same period last year.. The Authority will continue to closely monitor the hydrological outlook and the performance of the Kariba Catchment..."
Floating solar could alleviate regions electricity deficit
The AfDB said that both Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as the entire Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) Region, suffer power supply deficits.
"The shortfalls faced by the two countries are compounded by regular poor hydrology affecting the Zambezi catchment and over-utilisation of the reservoir due to shortage of supply from other sources.
"The addition of floating solar would therefore increase capacity and improve utilisation of the resulting hydro/ solar system. It would also provide a substitute for some fossil fuelled plants that are due for decommissioning and enable better hydrologic regulation." |
