Botswana challenged to develop solar hubs
To benefit rural and semi- rural areas far from electricity grid
Botswana is faced with the challenge of meeting the national electricity demand in a cost effective and environmentally friendly manner.
Recent climate change impacts have also pressured government to experiment with clean technology in partnership with different stakeholders.
Most urgently, Botswana will need a rollout of energy supply to rural and semi- rural areas when the COVID- 19 vaccine finally makes its way here in 2021. Solar expert Tshepo Mokwena said the recent developments would push government to tap into and realise the vast potential of a solar industry in Botswana and strive to be a solar hub in southern Africa.
“Government’s task is not only getting it to people in rural and semi- rural areas, but also ensuring that citizens who are beyond the reach of electricity grids, have access to the vaccine, so this challenges government to develop mechanisms to ensure that solar benefits rural communities more,” he said.
Manufacturers of the vaccine have indicated that the vaccine should be stored in cold temperatures, which requires for solar mini grids and fridges, in areas where there is little to no electricity. “The demand for solar is growing and will increase over the next few years. Botswana has the capacity to harvest solar energy. “There are also improvements that would make this easier, for example, newly advanced residential solar panels feature technology that maximises power production,” he said. Despite being one the fastest growing economies in Africa, the remotely isolated rural areas pose problems to rural energy management and development, largely due to poor road links with urban areas, and remoteness from the national electrical transmission grid. This makes renewable energy a sector with great potential, particularly solar, as Botswana has sunshine most times of the year, with a recorded 3300 hours of sunshine annually.
The National Energy Master Plan has incorporated into all aspects of the development: solar for domestic and commercial use, solar desalination to provide potable water, water pumping and refrigeration. President Mokgweetsi Masisi said in the State of the Nation Address that energy security is a national priority for Botswana, adding that key power generation and transmission initiatives are being undertaken to ensure the realisation of this goal.
“Government continues to carry out some major power infrastructure development projects, electrification of rural villages, network extension and reinforcement, as well the refurbishment of the transmission and distribution network,” he said.
Masisi also noted that Government has developed an Integrated Resource Plan for the electricity sector development, to drive the strategic objective of achieving reliable, safe and affordable electricity supply across the country.
“The Integrated Resource Plan intends to achieve energy generation mix of at least 15 percent renewable energy by 2030 from the current two percent.
“The Botswana Energy and Regulatory Authority, has issued three licenses for power generation to Independent Power Producers for the first time, in November 2019.” Masisi noted that government remains committed to electrifying villages under the Rural Village Electrification programme, bringing the total electrification progress to 88 percent with 435 out of 492 gazetted villages in the country electrified. The Rural Electrification Programme is implemented solely by citizen consultants and contractors in accordance with Government’s Citizen Economic Empowerment and Economic Diversification Drive.
Over two billion Pula has been disbursed for the Rural Electrification programme. In line with continued organisational reforms of being energy secure, with safe and diversified energy sources, Government recently developed Solar Roof Top Guidelines to enable Botswana to generate electricity from the sun for their own use and to sell the excess to Botswana Power Corporation. This initiative is already being piloted.