A look at Sadc protocols on renewable energy

Richard Muponde, Zimpapers Politics Hub

THE Southern African Development Community (Sadc) has been grappling with severe power shortages, leading to widespread load shedding in countries such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.

The power shortages have been exacerbated by various factors including ageing infrastructure, insufficient investment in new power generation capacity, and the impact of climate change on water resources for hydroelectric power generation.

As the region’s economic powerhouse, South Africa has been particularly hard hit by the power shortages, with frequent and prolonged load shedding disrupting businesses and daily life. Similarly, Zimbabwe and Zambia have also imposed load shedding, causing significant disruptions to industrial operations and daily routines.

The country which is hosting the Sadc Summit in August where the power shortages will be an agenda, like other countries is grappling with power woes after it lost 800 megawatts due to shortages of water for generation at the Kariba South Hydro Electrical Power Station.

This was revealed by Energy and Power Development Minister Edgar Moyo in Parliament recently while responding to questions from legislators on the electricity situation in the country.

Lake Kariba is designed to operate between levels 475,50m and 488,50m, with 0,70m freeboard, for hydropower generation.

However, according to the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), the lake level as of 20 June this year was at 477,31m compared to 479,92m last year.

The usable live storage for power generation, according to ZRA, also stood at 12,54 percent compared to 31,23 percent in 2023, with the usable live storage volume at 8,12 billion cubic metres (BCM) compared to 20,23 BCM last year.

The country is enduring a 12-hour load-shedding regime on some days.
This has also affected other countries in the region as they share power through the Sadc Power Pool.

The water rationing in the context of power generation at the Kariba Dam, which straddles the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, has further compounded the region’s power woes. Kariba Dam, a crucial source of hydroelectric power, has been affected by lower water levels due to changing weather patterns and reduced rainfall, leading to decreased power generation capacity.

As Sadc leaders gather in Zimbabwe in August, addressing the power challenges in the Sadc region requires a multi-faceted approach.

One of the key solutions lies in prioritising renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power to diversify the energy mix and reduce reliance on traditional fossil fuels and hydroelectric power.

The Sadc region has vast untapped potential for renewable energy, and leveraging this potential could significantly bolster the region’s energy security. ”SADC Power Crisis: Region’s Energy Woes Exacerbated by Climate Change, Infrastructure Age”

The regional bloc has already laid the groundwork for addressing the region’s energy needs through protocols on renewable energy.
These protocols emphasise the development and utilisation of renewable energy sources to enhance energy access, promote sustainable development, and mitigate the impact of climate change.

By harnessing the abundant solar and wind resources in the region, Sadc member states can make significant strides in addressing the power shortages.
The Southern African Power Pool (Sapp) which coordinates the planning, generation and transmission of electricity on behalf of member state utilities in Sadc expects to achieve a renewable energy mix in the regional energy grid of at least 32 percent of the total energy produced by 2020, which should rise to 35 percent by 2030.

The Sapp, a regional initiative aimed at promoting cross-border electricity trade and cooperation, can also play a pivotal role in addressing the power shortages.

The Sadc Energy Ministers meeting in Maseru, Lesotho in June 2013, said the development of a renewable energy strategy would ensure that the Sadc region is able to effectively manage and exploit its abundant natural resources.
Member states should thus advance the process of finalising the Sadc Renewable Energy Strategy and Action Plan (Resap) that was discussed over a decade ago.

“We note that renewable energy is an integral part of the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All Initiative and urge member states, assisted by the Sadc Secretariat, to mobilise resources to finalise the Sadc Renewable Energy Strategy and Action,” the energy ministers said in a statement released after their meeting.

The objective of Resap, initiated by the Sadc secretariat with the government of Finland, is to explore options to increase the use of renewable energy in southern Africa, and to ensure that the regional energy strategy is aligned with global trends towards clean and alternative energy sources.

At the Sadc Summit, leaders from member states have an opportunity to delve into comprehensive discussions on the region’s power challenges.

The summit can serve as a platform for fostering collaboration and resource sharing among member states to bolster energy infrastructure, explore innovative financing mechanisms for energy projects, and strengthen regional cooperation in the energy sector.

By facilitating the sharing of electricity resources among member states, the Sapp can help mitigate the impact of power deficits in individual countries and enhance overall energy security in the region.
A renewable energy expert, Mr Washington Chikombingo said Sadc states must adopt Energy Management Programmes taking into cognizance efficient energy use.

“Renewable energy is a key topical issue the world over. Zera is working tirelessly in these programmes. Moving outside Sadc, the Australian government is injecting US$15,2 million until 2026 to develop, evolve, and deliver the energy efficiency agenda,” Mr Chikombingo said.

“It is true that the Sadc region is working tirelessly to improve its power supply and Heads of State from time to time discuss these challenges and find solutions to assist one another. However, the Southern Africa Power Pool is key to providing essential bilateral agreements on power purchases.

“SDG 7, the sustainable development goal, calls for affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030. Sadc can ride on Sapp agreements and has vast land and good climatic conditions for renewable energy, especially solar.”

The Sadc region faces significant challenges stemming from power shortages, but concerted efforts to prioritise renewable energy, leverage regional cooperation, and explore innovative solutions can pave the way for a more resilient and sustainable energy landscape in Southern Africa. – @muponderichard.