Govt pushes urban solar lighting

Debra Matabvu
Government will start installing US$500 000 worth of solar street lights before 2015 is out, an initiative projected to save at least 100MW.
These will replace conventional street bulbs, which require a significant amount of electricity. Phase 1 covers Marondera, Chinhoyi and Beitbridge and will be rolled out over 14 weeks, while phases 2 and 3 target Hwange, Chiredzi, Bindura, Kadoma, Rusape and Gwanda.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company will finance the project as Harare and Bulawayo await the outcome of loan negotiations with India.
Implementation is expected to be swift as authorities seek to optimise every available megawatt on the back of serious power supply constraints.
Secretary for Energy and Power Development Mr Patson Mbiriri told The Sunday Mail: “We have begun this national solar street lighting programme, and decided to first assist smaller towns as Harare and Bulawayo have a comparative advantage in terms of potential investment. “We hope these towns will see the impact on their electricity bills and energy conservation. We want to entice local authorities to go solar so as to save electricity, thereby reducing electricity bills. In the near future, the programme will be extended to traffic lights.”
Zimbabwe is grappling with load-shedding as Kariba Dam’s levels remain too low for optimum electricity generation at the country’s main hydro-power station.
National power demand is 2 200MW, but around 700MW is being generated.
Besides securing additional supplies from Mozambique’s Hydro Cahora Bassa, authorities are focusing on electricity conservation and solar energy.
In March 2015, Harare City Council embarked on a US$15 million solar street lighting programme that will see over 4 000 appliances installed in the Central Business District.
In 2016, conventional filament light bulbs will be banned, with both domestic and industrial users expected to adopt energy-saving alternatives like compact fluorescent lamps.
This is projected to save Zimbabwe some 300MW at any given time.
Harare Residents’ Trust spokesperson Miss Esther Chimanikire welcomed the street light project.