By Correspondent
China is expected to account for 60% of renewable energy capacity installed worldwide between now and 2030 as Zimbabwe plods along at a measly average of 200MW.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) show that Zimbabwe’s supposed all-weather friend is set to be the biggest in the sector.
It says over the next 6 years renewable energy projects will roll out 3 times the pace of the previous 6 years.
They will be mainly led by energy programs in China and India.
The former will have over half of the world’s renewables by the end of the decade.
However, the growth of China in renewable energy isn’t matched by Zimbabwe’s lethargic pace.
Zimbabwe’s Slow Pace
Zimbabwe’s National Renewable Energy Policy set the target of achieving an installed renewable capacity of 1,100MW, or 16.5% of the overall electricity supply, whichever is greater, by 2025.
By 2030, the target is that the installed renewable energy capacity should be 2,100MW or 26.5% of the overall electricity supply.
These targets exclude the large hydropower stations of more than 30MW.
The NREP also aims to have installed 250,000 solar geysers by the year 2030.
These must be installed in new and old buildings.
The target is to increase the use of institutional and domestic biogas digesters.
Deployment and the use of solar mini-grids, off-grid solar solutions and solar water pumping solutions are some of the targets.
However, all the targets and practical achievements stand pale in comparison to China’s daunting ventures.
In the first half of 2024 alone China issued permits for 12 new projects totaling 9.1 GW, according to Global Energy Monitor.
Private Sector Leading Drive
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s renewable energy projects have largely been driven by Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
These IPPs include
-Kupinga Renewable Energy
Guruve Solar Park (1.2MW), Solgas (Solar-5MW)
Green Fuel (bagasse), Distributed Power Africa (solar), Centragrid (solar) and UK-based PGI Group Limited renewable energy projects run by Nyangani Renewable Energy (Private) Limited, which include Riverside Solar Power Station (Pvt) Ltd. (2.5MW) (solar).
The others are Nyamingura Mini Hydro Station (1.1MW) (hydro) and Dura Power Station (2.2MW) (hydro).
Pungwe A Power Station (2.725MW) (hydro), Pungwe B Power Station (15MW) (hydro), Pungwe C Power Station (3.75MW) (hydro) and Hauna Power Station (2.3MW) (hydro) complete the list.
However, the combined output from the IPPs is, at present, a meagre 130MW.
Poor Funding by Gvt
According to renewable energy expert Nikita Madya, in Renewable Energy Laws and Regulations Zimbabwe 2025, government at present has limited resources.
Thus, it is unlikely to invest on its own.
“It is hoped, however, that sufficient incentives will be put in place to make it worthwhile for private investors to put money into such projects.
“It is also expected that as and when the Batoka hydrological project is commissioned, an additional 800MW of power will be added to the national grid.
“This will provide an incentive to the retirement of the old coal-fired power plants at Hwange.
The disparity between China and Zimbabwe has been taken by some as a reflection of poor leadership.
Some experts claim the government has failed to leverage it’s friendship with China to grow in the renewable energy sector.
Norman Masauso, an economist, says government has exhibited lack of focus.
“What is the use of allying with China and yet fail to grab the benefits that come with such attachments.
“China is the biggest player in renewable energy.
“Yet, our leaders have failed to facilitate strategic connections that will grow is in the same area.
“Now we have a debilitating energy crisis, the extends to negatively impact production and the economy,” he said.
