Zimbabwe Positions Solar Energy at Centre of Africa’s Clean Energy Drive

VICTORIA FALLS — Zimbabwe is hosting a major regional meeting on renewable energy as African countries seek to accelerate the adoption of solar power and address growing energy challenges linked to climate change, limited electricity access and inadequate investment.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa and First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa are expected to attend the official opening of the 8th International Solar Alliance (ISA) Regional Africa Committee Meeting in Victoria Falls today, which has brought together representatives from about 40 countries.

The three-day meeting, which began with project visits and a media briefing, is expected to produce several agreements aimed at increasing solar investment across Africa.

Among the key outcomes is Zimbabwe’s expected signing of the Africa Solar Facility, which would make it the 11th African country to join the initiative. Zimbabwe is also expected to sign the Zimbabwe Declaration, which places particular emphasis on the use of solar energy in agriculture.

Speaking at a press conference in Victoria Falls, Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo said Zimbabwe regarded solar energy as an important part of the country’s future electricity mix.

He said the Government was targeting an increase in solar and other renewable energy sources to 27 percent of the national electricity supply by 2030.

Zimbabwe has traditionally relied heavily on thermal and hydroelectric power, but climate change, droughts and fluctuations in water levels have exposed the vulnerability of relying on conventional sources alone.

The country  receives an impressive average of nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine every year making investment in solar energy a prudent one.

Minister Moyo said the country was taking advantage of its abundant sunshine and declining costs of solar equipment to encourage greater investment in renewable energy.

The Government has also introduced measures to support the expansion of solar systems, including encouraging households and other electricity users with solar installations to participate in net metering.

ISA director-general Ashish Khanna said Africa had reached a point where it needed to move from discussions about solar energy to large-scale implementation.

He said solar power use on the continent had increased significantly, while falling technology costs were making decentralised systems such as rooftop solar increasingly attractive.

The meeting is also expected to see the signing of the Africa Solar Facility involving the International Solar Alliance, Africa50 and the Nigerian Investment Authority. The facility is designed to help finance private-sector investment in decentralised solar projects across Africa.

A Solar Technology Application Resource Centre is also expected to be established in Zimbabwe as a centre of excellence for solar technology and expertise.

Despite Africa possessing enormous solar potential, the continent continues to face a major financing gap. Only a small proportion of global clean-energy investment reaches Africa, even though the continent has some of the world's greatest solar resources and hundreds of millions of people still lack reliable access to electricity.

The ISA therefore says stronger cooperation between governments, financial institutions, businesses and local communities is needed to unlock investment and ensure solar projects are implemented at scale.

Agriculture is another major focus of the meeting, with delegates examining the potential of solar-powered irrigation and other renewable-energy technologies to strengthen food production.

Khanna said the expansion of solar irrigation could contribute significantly to food security, particularly because only a small percentage of Africa’s arable land is currently irrigated.

The ISA is targeting the development of one million solar farms across Africa as part of efforts to increase agricultural productivity and reduce dependence on unreliable rainfall.

Why solar energy needs to be considered

Solar energy is increasingly important for Africa because it can help address several challenges at the same time. Unlike fossil-fuel-based electricity generation, solar power produces electricity without directly emitting greenhouse gases during operation, making it an important tool in responding to climate change.

Solar systems can also be installed in remote communities where extending national electricity grids is expensive and difficult. Small solar systems, mini-grids and solar home systems can provide households, schools, clinics and businesses with electricity without waiting for major grid infrastructure to be constructed