BPC Approves 46 Rooftop Solar Applications
The Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) recently announced that of the 102 rooftop solar programme applications they received, 11 of the 46 approved are ready to commission. The remaining were not approved as some were duplicates while others did not have all the needed documents.
The Rooftop Solar Programme, which was launched last year, was developed to create an environment in which end-users can generate their own electricity and sell the excess to BPC. It covers household, commercial and industrial sectors. The system-wide aggregate capacity of the programme in the first 12 months is capped at 10MW. The programme is a suitable alternative mechanism to increase the uptake of solar energy and facilitate private sector participation, stated the Corporation.
The target is to have 15% contribution of renewable energy to the electricity mix and 100% electricity availability by 2030.
Further, the Corporation has embarked on some renewable energy projects, which include the two 50MW Solar Photovoltaic projects located in Selebi-Phikwe and Jwaneng.
The tender for Selebi-Phikwe has been awarded while the power plant for the second site in Jwaneng is under procurement. These projects will be implemented by the private sector. Both sites are expected to be in commercial operation by December 2022. Others include 12 grid-tied small scale Solar PV projects with a combined capacity of 35 MW of which six sites namely Shakawe, Bobonong, Lobatse, Molepolole, Maun and Gantsi have been awarded and the remaining six sites Kang, Tsabong, Tutume, Serowe, Charleshill and Kasane are at the procurement stage. “We are working on the power purchase agreement for Shakawe and Bobonong that will be submitted at Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority once done we will be signing and the groundwork can start,” the Corporation stated.
All 12 sites are expected to be in commercial operation by December 2022, providing a total of 35MW. The 100MW coal-bed methane (CBM) project is currently under procurement while the 200MW Concentrated Solar Project will be procured in 2022.
All these are part of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which was launched in December 2020. An IRP is a 20-year roadmap for power generation and takes on board different technologies for power generation. Integrated Energy Planning and developing an IRP are an integral part of the energy planning process in Botswana as guided by the National Development Plan 11 and other sector policies.
Ministry has taken a deliberate decision that all renewable energy projects inclusive of solar projects that are in the IRP will be implemented by Independent Power Producers. The projects will be tendered for following the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act.