According to the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA), seven solar PV projects totaling 66.6 MW are presently in advanced stages of construction and are anticipated to be grid-connected by the end of this year. This includes the country’s largest solar plant under development is a 25 MW project in Matabeleland North province.
All six projects have signed power purchase agreements with an undisclosed electric utility. Plum Solar has a 20-year PPA, power purchase agreement whereas the rest of the contracts are all for 25 years. The 5 MW Wartrail Power Plant in Bulilimamangwe, Matabeleland South province, is one of the projects currently under construction. Plum Solar is constructing it. SolGas also intends to construct a 5 MW facility in Hwange, Matabeleland North province.
Meanwhile, in Gwanda, Matabeleland South province, Richaw Solar Tech is building the 5 MW Sunset Technologies Solar Park. In Seke, Mashonaland East province, a 20 MW Harava Solar Park is being constructed. In Matebeleland North’s Hwange District, Power Ventures. is constructing a 25 MW Chidobe-Mizpah plant. Guruve Solar Park is also building a 5 MW solar park in Guruve, Mashonaland Central region. The seventh project in Zimbabwe is a 0.5 MW hybrid solar-diesel project that is currently under construction. In Mashonaland East, Kefalos Cheese Products is constructing the project.
Over the last decade, the country’s grid has seen regular power disruptions, and the government has struggled to raise cash to invest in new power plants. By 2025, the country wants to deploy 1 GW of clean energy capacity, which it is currently sourcing from neighbouring Mozambique and South Africa.
