COP28: Zimbabwe agrees to triple renewable energy as country battles power crisis

AT  the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), negotiators called for a global tripling of renewable energy, a doubling of energy efficiency and a transition from fossil fuels.

This global agreement came only two weeks after Zimbabwe had been one of the early adopters of a pledge, signed by countries committing to implementing that same agreement.

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority projected a surge in renewable energy projects in the country next year as companies move to cushion themselves against power shortages that are expected to worsen.

Zimbabwe’s commitment to the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge complements the southern African country’s renewable energy policy which commits to increasing the installed renewable energy capacity, excluding large-scale hydropower, to 26.5 percent, of the overall electricity supply by 2030 from five percent currently.

For the southern African country that is yet to electrify half of its population’s homes, the last few months have seen it fall through its worst power crisis on record, with businesses and households having to endure power outages of up to 12 hours a day.

As part of efforts to bolster depressed electricity output from aged thermal and hydroelectric plants, companies in Zimbabwe have been turning to renewable energy sources.

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority projected a surge in renewable energy projects in the country next year as companies move to cushion themselves against power shortages that are expected to worsen.

The Ministry of Finance has also provided the private sector with risk mitigation provisions including launching an initiative for guarantees to cover 27 solar power projects with sizes ranging from 5MW to 100MW and a cumulative capacity of 998MW for $1 billion.

A Commitment to Transition to Renewable Energy Serves The Country Better

Despite the energy challenges, joining the global commitment to double the annual rate of energy efficiency improvements from two percent to over four percent by 2030, signifies Zimbabwe’s unwavering dedication to a sustainable future, powered by clean energy.

Speaking at the ministerial round table on the Just Transition at COP28, Environment, Climate, and Wildlife Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said just transition is crucial and urgent in pursuing sustainable development and achieving the global climate goals.

“Developing countries require a comprehensive and integrated approach that addresses the interlinked challenges of climate change, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development, ensuring that the transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient future is fair, inclusive and beneficial for all,” he said.

“In this regard, the country acknowledges the crucial need to transition towards cleaner energy sources through undertaking concrete actions by implementing projects related to solar farms and hydro energy”.

In Zimbabwe, the renewable energy share is 49 percent, whereas the non-renewable contribution amounts to 51 percent. Kariba hydroelectric power station contributes 40 percent of the power supply while solar provides five percent.

The country’s current local generating capacity stands at 1,280 MW, against an average local demand of 1,850 MW, resulting in a deficit of up to 500 MW.

The fluctuating water levels due to climate change have affected the hydropower Kariba Dam’s generation capacity. Outdated thermal power stations, namely the Hwange Thermal Power Station, pose a significant threat to the country’s electricity access.

Given these challenges, the National Renewable Energy Policy sees the country’s vast array of clean energy sources, including solar, hydro, biomass, geothermal and wind, as enough to facilitate a transition from fossil fuels.

Zimbabwe Makes Sustainable Energy Deals at COP28

To sharpen its focus on greening the economy, the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), at COP28, signed an agreement with Sweden’s Absolicon Solar Collector AB for the construction of a robotic manufacturing plant to produce solar collectors that will provide fossil-free heat, replacing the 1,400 coal-fired boilers currently in use in the country.

ZESA also signed a system operations and wheeling agreement with UK-backed Africa GreenCo to ease the risks that have kept energy investors away from the southern African country.

While Zimbabwe has licenced independent power producers with projects of a potential 7,000 megawatts (MW), investors have stayed away due to currency uncertainty and tariff risks, the agreement will provide up to 18 months’ cash cover for energy investors.

ZESA executive chairman Sydney Gata said under the System Operations and Wheeling Agreement signed between GreenCo and ZESA, if there is a default by ZESA or other involved offtakers, GreenCo will step in to cover that risk.

ZESA executive chairman Sydney Gata

“What GreenCo has come to do is to assist both ZESA and government by providing a mezzanine guarantee structure where they will issue commercial securities to assist independent power producers to reach markets,” Gata said.

The country’s power utility also signed a US$70 million joint venture with the UAE’s QLV, known as QLV Access Cables, a company owned by the private office of Sheikh Ahmed Al-Qassimi, to manufacture cables in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Energy and Power Development, Edgar Moyo, said the partnerships speak to the commitment to transitioning to clean and renewable sources of energy.

“With the production of solar collectors, we aim to significantly reduce our reliance on coal-fired boilers, which have been a major contributor to carbon emissions and air pollution in our country. This initiative will not only help us achieve our climate goals but will also provide clean and sustainable heat energy for various sectors, including industrial, commercial, and residential,” he said at COP28.

The agreements signed at COP28 and Zimbabwe signing the renewable energy pledge mean the country is taking a momentous step towards a sustainable future by embracing clean and renewable energy solutions.

The shift aligns with a global trend, as more and more countries, including developing nations, are making significant progress on their renewable energy and energy efficiency goals as outlined in their Nationally Determined Contributions and carbon neutrality commitments.