Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe
Bulawayo Bureau
THE Airports Company of Zimbabwe is set to roll out solar power plants at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo and other airports across the country as part of efforts to enhance energy sustainability and reduce reliance on the national grid.
The initiative will see the establishment of a 2-megawatt solar farm at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo, with similar projects earmarked for replication at other airports.
Excess electricity generated will be fed into the national grid.
Given that Zimbabwe faces an energy deficit that at times disrupts commercial and household activities, The Airports Company own power production would enhance energy security, crucial for aviation operations.
The envisaged project is currently under evaluation for a public private partnership as the company seeks to identify suitable investors and appropriate implementation models.
These efforts dovetail with the Government’s thrust to adopt renewable energy solutions in response to growing electricity demand driven by economic expansion under the Second Republic.
Zimbabwe is actively promoting renewable energy investment to achieve universal access by 2030, targeting 2 100 megawatts of renewable capacity. The falling cost of solar means that solar energy and the required battery storage is now cheaper than coal-fired thermal stations.
Key actions include duty-free solar imports and tax incentives for independent power producers.
Airports Cmpany public relations and communications manager Mr Tonderai Mangombe told Zimpapers Business Hub that the solar initiative would enable the airport to transition to clean energy while generating additional revenue.
“Plans for Joshua Nkomo International Airport are to have a two-megawatt solar farm. We are on the electricity grid using Zesa 100 percent, but what we intend to do is have Zesa as backup and we will go 100 percent on solar.
“On average, the airport uses at most one megawatt, so the extra megawatt will be sold to the national grid to assist in the national electrification program.
“At present, we are still sourcing and evaluating partners because it is going to be a private-public project.
“There are different models of partnership that we are still looking at. We want the one that benefits the country, the company and the investors as well, so we are still evaluating which is the best arrangement we can use to establish this project.”
Mr Mangombe said the solar programme would be extended to other major airports, including Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and Victoria Falls International Airport.
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