ROOF TOP SOLAR
National solar rollout as rural electrification looms Citizens can sell surplus electricity to BPC Solar energy to aid Covid-19 vaccine storage
Botswana is making an investment in renewable energy and green technology through the establishment of the solar industry.
Government continues to undertake organisational reforms to ensure Botswana becomes energy secure with diversified, safe and clean energy sources, and also be a net exporter of energy.
In November, the Ministry of Energy and Green Technology in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development launched the multibillion Pula Solar Roof Top project, of a total of 10 PV capacity over the next 12 months.
Through the scheme project, citizens will install solar for domestic use, and sell the surplus generated to the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), at a rate of 81.51 thebe per kWh.
Speaking during the launch in Gaborone, Ambassador Craig Cloud noted that recent climate change impacts have forced the Botswana government to experiment with clean technology, and the US is committed to assisting Botswana with this transition.
The scheme is also aimed at increasing the country’s installed capacity because a round 29 percent of Botswana’s current power demand is covered by domestic coal power generation, which comes from the 600 MW coal-fired power plant known as Morupule B. The remaining 71 percent comprises power imports from South Africa.
Botswana spends P520 million per annum on energy imports. Due to several technical problems with the Morupule B plant, however, the country is suffering from chronic energy shortages.
Botswana had only 3MW of installed PV power by end of 2019, according to latest statistics from the International Renewable Energy Agency. 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.
Government’s task will not only be delivering the vaccine to people in rural and semi-rural areas, but also ensuring that citizens who are beyond the reach of electricity grids also have access to it.
Manufacturers of the vaccine have indicated that the vaccine should be stored in very cold temperatures, which requires for solar mini grids and fridges in areas that are far from the national electricity grid.
In his State of the Nation Address in November 2020, President Mokgweetsi Masisi said it is government’s priority to transition Botswana from an energy dependent to an energy surplus nation.
“Moving forward there will be greater emphasis on the expansion of solar power and other green technologies to meet our energy need,” he said. Masisi also said that in order to meet Botswana’s national electricity demand in a cost effective and environmentally friendly manner, the government would through an established Integrated Resource Plan, implement several clean technology projects.
These include: a 100 megawatts power plant, currently under procurement which is expected to be start commercial operation in 2021 in the towns of Jwaneng (50 megawatts) and Selebi-Phikwe (50 megawatts); a 12 Grid tied Solar photovoltaic with a total of 35 megawatts by 2022, with established centres in Kasane, Molepolole, Tutume, Gantsi, Tsabong, Maun, Serowe, Bobonong, Shakawe, Lobatse, Mamuno and Kang; a 100 Megawatts Concentrated Solar Plant expected to start in 2021; a 50 megawatts Wind by 2024 and a 100 megawatts Solar photovoltaic by 2026.
Masisi said the projects would be guided by the National Energy Master Plan, developed in 2018 to incorporate all aspects of solar development: solar for domestic and commercial use, solar desalination to provide potable water, water pumping and refrigeration.