Online Reporter
Martin Kadzere
Zimbabwe has reached a significant energy milestone, with a total of 118MW in net metering installations now integrated into the national grid, ZESA Holdings chief executive Engineer Cletus Nyachowe has said.
The achievement follows the removal of administrative and financial barriers, most notably the elimination of upfront connection fees and the introduction of credit transfers between a customer’s different properties.
The net metering programme, spearheaded by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of ZESA, allows existing customers who generate renewable energy—primarily through solar photovoltaic (PV) systems—to feed excess power back into the national grid.
The exchange is facilitated by grid-tied inverters and bi-directional smart meters that accurately track both energy consumption and export. Under the arrangement, the ZETDC grid functions as a “virtual battery bank”.
When a customer’s local demand is met and their on-site batteries are fully charged, surplus electricity flows into the national network. The surplus is recorded as credits that the customer can draw back on during the night or in cloudy weather, effectively offsetting their monthly electricity bills.
“The programme accelerates the return on investment in renewable energy while reducing household and business costs,” said Eng Nyachowe. “It also extends the lifespan of private battery systems by reducing deep discharge cycles and lowers the need for large, costly battery banks.”
