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Mangaliso Lawrence Kabulika
THE Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) is looking into the possibility of introducing a hybrid project that combines solar harvesting and agriculture, offering a new avenue for sustainable energy and agricultural development.
The idea of the project that will integrate solar energy into agricultural lands and generate renewable energy while maintaining the productivity of the land comes on the backdrop of power shortages that have in recent seasons frustrated efforts to boost production.
ZIDA revealed its intentions in a recent tweet saying: “There are opportunities for solar energy, including the possibility of a hybrid project that combines solar harvesting and agriculture.”
Zimbabwe has an installed capacity of about 2 300 megawatts, 95 percent of which is owned by the state-owned utility, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC). More than 50 percent of electricity is generated from hydropower power, while the bulk is from thermal power plants. Bagasse, mini-hydropower, and small-sized grid-connected solar systems have an installed capacity of about 130 megawatts.
In light of the above, the Government is developing several Greenfield projects to improve security of the electricity supply.
“The Government is developing several Greenfield projects, which are at various stages of development to improve security of the electricity supply,” ZIDA said.
As the country is working towards achieving the Vision 2030 set targets, demand for electricity is set to increase including for the agricultural sector, which relies on electricity to sustain irrigation for wheat, cold storage for meat, dairy products and horticulture products.
“All sectors are working to achieve Vision 2030 set targets hence demand for electricity is set to increase drastically,” ZIDA observed in the tweet.
It went further to say energy was one of the key enablers of the Vision 2030 attainment.
“Energy is one of the key enablers towards the attainment of this vision. To this end a number of initiatives are being taken to boost the availability of energy supply to all sectors and citizens. These include supporting polices and regulatory framework.”
The project presents an opportunity to leverage the country’s abundant sunshine and vast agricultural potential, creating a model that can be replicated across the region.
“In addition, several projects are lined up to boost the country’s transmission grid’s capacity for wheeling power to enable it to perform its key role in the regional power trade,” said the statement.
The innovative project holds the potential to transform the agricultural sector in Zimbabwe and contribute to the country’s sustainable development goals.
“The government has adopted ‘Vision 2030’ whose thrust is to transform Zimbabwe into an Upper Middle-Income Economy by the year 2030,” observed ZIDA.
Online Reporter