The case for rooftop solar systems

Ngonidzashe Muzondo
Zimbabwe is facing an electricity crisis of huge proportions. The power crisis has provided much-needed impetus to urgently rethink electricity generation and supply. Indeed, decision-makers have started responding by exploring energy-efficient ways of consuming electricity, culminating in the recent launch of the National Solar Water Heating Programme which makes it mandatory for all houses with electric geysers to migrate to solar water heating.
Government has embarked on a renewable energy trajectory that has to be fully supported and instituted to secure Zimbabwe’s energy security. The fact that solar energy is a viable solution to the country’s energy problems cannot be overemphasised and already there exists enthusiasm about solar energy solutions. However, a serious concern has been noted in the manner in which policy-makers have associated provision of solar energy in the power mix, chiefly through large ground-mounted solar farms.
Besides large solar projects earmarked for Gwanda South, Government has not yet pronounced a coherent solar policy to support emergence of rooftop solar systems to generate electricity on-site to foster grid independence and reduce demand on the national grid. Of particular interest for energy economy restructuring is the unused rooftop spaces of our homes that might be usefully capitalised through photovoltaic (PV) energy technology deployment. Policy-makers have overlooked the fact that a significant percentage of the country’s electricity consumption can be supplied by rooftop-based distributed PV systems.
A shift from centralised, fossil fuel-based power sources to decentralised, renewable sources like rooftop solar PV systems can overcome the electricity crisis, while achieving other substantial benefits like jobs creation in the green sector.
Zimbabwe must demonstrate its dedicated commitment to transition to a renewable and sustainable energy paradigm by drafting regulations that will bring equitable delivery of energy premised on decentralised solar energy systems.
Given the dramatic fall in costs, solar energy has moved into the mainstream and become a viable option. Distributed solar power should not be regarded as a nuisance, irrelevant, regulatory challenge or a cost factor. It is none of these.
It is, rather, a viable, achievable, significant part of the solution to Zimbabwe’s long-term power requirements. Taking an aggressive approach to the adoption of rooftop solar could yield numerous advantages for Government.
It would be a strategic manoeuvre to take an early and a bold step into a new energy future. The solar industry is capable of developing an ecosystem that creates jobs for system installers, transporters, project developers and power controllers.
The City Of Harare, The Sunshine City, has the capability of becoming the centre for solar research and development, or an “innovation hub” for Zimbabwe.
For this it can exploit the knowledge pool of top institutions in the capital such as the Harare Institute of Technology and the University of Zimbabwe to train the first cohort of solar technologists and technicians needed to support large-scale solar deployment. In order to institute a transformational energy scenario comparable in significance to the mobile phone revolution, Government must implement policy options that will incentivise rooftop solar systems and create the necessary “viability nudges” to propel the growth of rooftop PV systems. Zimbabwe must formulate a draft rooftop solar policy to promote rooftop, small-scale, decentralised solar power generation to meet Solar Renewable Purchase Obligations or targets which must form the foundation that creates demand for renewable energy technology premised on rooftop solar systems.
Solar Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPOs) define the minimum percentage of solar power that obligated entities, open access and captive consumers have to buy as a percentage of their total power sold or consumed. Obligated entities can meet their obligations by purchasing the required quantity directly from producers or producing it themselves.
Alternatively, obligated entities can buy solar Renewable Energy Certificates to fulfill their renewable obligation. To accelerate growth of solar power, Government must show that the country is prepared to lead and embrace a paradigm change in the way electricity is generated, distributed and consumed, through stating higher, but still perfectly achievable RPOs, of say, 40 percent renewable energy source relative to the total power consumed.
The obligated entities must include the residential, commercial and industrial power consumers, including farmers. Clear targets on renewable energy would certainly help build investors’ confidence and create a mandatory domestic market for solar energy systems, with prospects of local manufacturing of solar modules.
Creating a mandatory market for energy systems or fuels is not entirely alien to Government, with the example of Green Fuel’s ethanol having benefited from a similar policy dispensation.
This policy will create an enabling environment to allow home-owners to lease their rooftop spaces to a solar developer or install the system themselves. A rooftop solar policy by Zimbabwe can set a benchmark through creating a policy that addresses the need for grid connectivity and achieves significant capacity additions. Grid connectivity can be a key driver for rooftop PV as it allows systems to avoid storage costs and offers more off-take options through net metering and Feed In Tariffs. Entrepreneurs will develop business models to serve Zimbabwe’s power consumers as long as there are no regulatory hurdles placed in their path. For instance, taking advantage of mandatory Solar Renewable Purchase Obligations, solar power developers could rent large, bundled rooftop spaces from building owners in a designated area, install PV systems and sell the power generated to the rooftop owners and other consumers at a pre-negotiated tariff.
This makes the model especially useful for deployment of solar for residential customers. Through economies of scale, the cost per kWh of solar power can be significantly reduced and made viable for residential rooftop owners. The key value proposition of this model is that it unlocks a number of residential rooftop spaces for PV systems, by providing economies of scale to the developers.
Government can also promote rooftop solar systems through setting standards for the quality of installations and the structural integrity of buildings where rooftop solar is set to be is installed.
Since rooftop solar is new for electricity stakeholders, specific guidelines need to be clear and simple as as to allow consumers to meet and enforce them easily. They should be made available on a online portal for transparent and easy access to all stakeholders.
This would limit the complexity and time taken for setting up rooftop installations. Metering options as well as standards and guidelines for rooftop PV systems have been developed on grid interaction of solar PV. However, the onus of selecting the metering policy for Zimbabwe’s power sector should naturally fall on the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority.
Zera should interact with Zesa, power consumers and independent solar consultants to frame specific guidelines in sync with the realities, challenges and aspirations of the stakeholders.
Further, guidelines specifying technical standards of connection, procedures of applying for such a connection and configuration of meters and their arrangement also need to be formulated.
Government must open space for private power players to provide alternative power sources to the power consumers. It is not expedient for energy policy-makers to preoccupy themselves with protecting massive inefficiencies displayed by Zesa, as such protectionist stances have already plunged the nation into darkness, further derailing government efforts to transform the economic fortunes of our country.
Bold steps to initiate a rooftop solar revolution must be executed.
Zesa should not view solar as a threat or a burden, but rather as a new business opportunity and as a chance to be at the leading edge of what electricity utilities will likely be in the future: Integrators of a smart grid with many different sources of power and consumption.
Adopting decentralised solar systems now is a good opportunity for Zesa to begin preparing for the future. In order for Zesa to make the transition from an “old” to a “new” power system with significant distributed solar PV, they will need clear political leadership with a dependable roadmap as well as support in building the required infrastructure additions.
Transition to an electricity system with a much larger amount of distributed solar provides many benefits to the grid as well as to the environment. The use of onsite power avoids the inefficiencies of transporting power over long distances.
The job creation potential is highest in the small scale rooftop segment, driven by thousands of installers compared to the ground mounted solar projects. The more distributed solar becomes, the more it will become an end consumer oriented market, where the key competencies required would be in local sales networks and marketing. Greater emphasis should be given to the rooftop solar market, as it will provide long-term, organic growth.
Ngonidzashe Muzondo is a solar energy consultant who specialises in design and implementation of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems and solar water geysers.