The installed capacity of Solar is approximate 35 MW which is 1.42% of total electricity power.⁶

The government is also taking initiatives to start 27 new solar power projects ranging from 5MW to 100MW of capacity. Cumulatively, they add up to 998MW upto 2025.⁸

The average costs of electricity generation from various sources:⁶

• Coal: 49.49 USD/MWh
• Solar: 1.51 USD/MWh
• Hydro: 46.69 USD/MWh
• Oil & Diesel: 4.305 USD/MWh
• Biomass & Waste: 4.305 USD/MWh

The top amount of capacity installed in Zimbabwe in 2022 was in Coal at 46.56%, down from 48.25% in 2021. The technology with the biggest increase in capacity installed in 2022 was Solar PV at 1.42%, up from 0.2% in 2021. The contribution of other sources are as follows:⁶

According to statistics published daily by the Zimbabwe Power Company, there is a deficit of 722 Megawatts from the daily average which leads to 10-12 hours load shedding and as a result, National grid provides 12-14 hours electricity as an average.⁴⁹

According to figures from the Ministry of Energy, More than 100,000 solar power systems are installed in homes across Zimbabwe.¹¹

Zimbabwe has a total number of 2 solar farms installed whereas 15 more solar farms are planned to be installed.¹²

5300 schools and clinics could potentially be served by off grid solar power systems. Another 10,000 facilities such as community water points remain un-electrified and have potential to install off grid system.¹³

¹⁴

• Current: By the end of 2022, Zimbabwe was estimated by the International Renewable Energy Agency to have 41 MW of installed PV (solar) capacity.
• Projected: This market is expected to reach 1100 MW by 2025.

Based on general salary data, Salaries are as follows:¹⁵

• Technicians / Other skilled workers (Electricians): USD 20,900 per year ($1,742/month)
• Engineers : USD27,800 to USD 35,800  per year ($2,317 – $2,983 per month)
• Solar Photovoltaic Installer :USD 422
• Solar Energy Engineer: Typically earns between $15,000 to $25,000 per year, depending on experience and qualifications.
• Solar Project Manager: Can expect an annual salary ranging from $20,000 to $35,000.
• Sales Manager in Solar Industry: Generally earns between $18,000 and $30,000 per year

The current population of Zimbabwe is 16,973,307.¹⁶

The average overhead costs for solar panel production in Zimbabwe are influenced by several factors, including raw material costs, energy consumption, labor, facility maintenance, and administrative expenses. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

• Raw Material Costs: Raw materials such as silicon, silver, and aluminum constitute about 40% of the production costs. The high purity required for silicon significantly adds to this expense.
• Energy Costs: The energy required for various production stages, like melting and shaping silicon, is considerable.
  • Electricity Cost:³ On average, energy costs can range from $0.10 to $0.13 per KWh.
  • Water Charges:²⁹ Here’s a breakdown of the customer categories and their corresponding price ranges (per cubic meter). It also includes rates for raw water (untreated water) for different categories.
    • Domestic: $1.04 – $2.15
    • Government: $1.66 – $2.21
    • Parastatals (government-owned businesses): $1.66 – $2.21
    • Business: $1.52 – $2.77
    • Industry: $2.77 (flat rate)
    • Institutions, Schools and Churches: $1.52 – $2.21
    • Mines: $2.77 (flat rate)
• Labor Costs: Labor costs in Zimbabwe are relatively lower compared to Western countries. There is no exact information available on the internet about minimum labor charges in Zimbabwe.
• Facility Maintenance:³⁰ The costs for maintaining manufacturing facilities, including rent, equipment maintenance, and repairs. Here’s a rough estimate for industrial rents in Zimbabwe (per month, USD):
  • Smaller Factories (500-1000 sqm): $1,000 – $2,000 USD
  • Medium Factories (1000-2000 sqm): $2,000 – $3,000 USD
  • Larger Factories (2000+ sqm): $3,000+ USD
• Administrative Expenses:¹⁵ These include the salaries of administrative staff, office supplies, and other general expenses. Administrative costs typically add up to a substantial part of the overhead, although exact figures can vary widely. Based on general salary data, Salaries are as follows:
  • Technicians / Other skilled workers (Electricians): USD 20,900 per year ($1,742/month)
  • Solar Photovoltaic Installer: USD 422
  • Solar Project Manager: Can expect an annual salary ranging from $20,000 to $35,000.
  • Sales Manager in Solar Industry: Generally earns between $18,000 and $30,000 per year
• Quality Control: Ensuring the solar panels meet performance and safety standards involves additional expenses for testing and inspections.

The costs can vary significantly based on several factors such as:

• Location: This includes variables like labor costs and energy prices, which can differ widely from one region to another.
• Scale of Production: Larger-scale production often benefits from economies of scale, potentially reducing per-unit costs.
• Level of Automation: Higher levels of automation can lead to greater efficiency and lower labor costs, but may require higher initial investments.
• Type of Solar Panels Produced: Different types of solar panels (e.g., monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin-film) have varying production costs due to differences in materials and manufacturing processes.

Overall, the overhead costs for solar panel production in Zimbabwe can range from 20% to 25% of the total production cost​

As of 2021, total electricity generation of capacity was 2.540 W, thermal power plants accounted for about 1,400 MW of Zimbabwe’s installed electricity generation capacity, while hydropower units, such as the Kariba Dam, accounted for the remaining. Power outages and load shedding occur when real electricity generation is significantly less than this capacity, which is caused by a number of variables including equipment failures, aging infrastructure, and climate change. The Zimbabwean government has been investigating the possibility of importing electricity from neighboring countries in addition to investing in renewable energy sources like solar power in order to ease the country’s electricity shortfall.¹⁷¹⁸

Following are the regulations for solar panel or any other electricity generator installation:¹⁹

• Operating a power plant above 100kW requires a generation license (except for personal use).
• The license permits the construction, ownership, and operation of a generation station for the delivery and production of electricity.
• With permission, license holders are able to sell power to distributors, resellers, or even direct customers.
• Within 60 days after purchase, personal generators must be reported to ZERA, the power regulator. ZERA gives a permit with safety requirements after verifying personal use.
• The ZERA Act, the Electricity Act, the Licensing Regulations, and their revisions are the important statutes.
• When their own use is high, net metering enables producers of renewable energy to put extra power back into the grid and receive credit for it.

The Zimbabwean government has been investigating the possibility of importing electricity from neighboring countries in addition to investing in renewable energy sources like solar power in order to ease the country’s electricity shortfall⁷¹⁹²⁰

• The United Arab Emirates-based energy company SkyPower and the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) have signed a power purchase deal. It is known as the Green Giant project and is intended to provide 500 megawatts (MW) of solar energy
• Ten independent power producer (IPP) projects have received approval from the government to begin producing electricity within the next two years.
• The government also developed important tax incentives in a bid to lure investors into the renewable energy space ¹⁰

²¹²²²³

Riverside Solar Power Station

• Installed Capacity: 2.5 MW
• Location: Mutoko, Zimbabwe

Nyabira Solar Power Plant

• Installed Capacity: 5 MW
• Location: Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe.

The government of Zimbabwe approved six solar projects of 116 MW to meet renewable energy target. The project are as follows:⁷

• Mutorashanga Indo Africa Solar plant (Capacity: 10 MW)
• Guruve Solar array (Capacity: 5.5 MW)
• De Green Rhino Solar plant (Capacity: 50 MW)
• Equinox Solar project (Capacity: 10 MW)
• Murombedzi Solar array (Capacity: 10.5 MW)
• Energywise Vungu Solar project ( Capacity: 30 MW)
• Gwanda Solar PV Park (Capacity 100 MW)
• Green Giant project (Capacity: 500 MW)

Following are the notable solar companies in Zimbabwe:

• Global Solar (Pvt) Ltd:²⁴  This company was incorporated in Zimbabwe in February 2014 and commenced offering solar products and services in March 2014. Their mission is to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life for people throughout rural Zimbabwe through the promotion of affordable technology powered by renewable energy.
• Cool Solar Africa:²⁵  This company helps homeowners, businesses, and farmers across Zimbabwe reduce their carbon footprint and save on energy bills with custom-designed solar solutions. They use top-quality equipment and experienced technicians to ensure your system is reliable, efficient, and affordable.
• Nyangani Renewable Energy (Pvt) Ltd:²⁶ Based in Harare, this company designs, builds, and operates both run of river hydroelectric power schemes and solar PV power schemes to deliver electricity into the Zimbabwe and Malawi national grids4. They have built 44MW of generation capacity.
• Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC):²⁷ ZPC was incorporated in 1996 as an investment vehicle in the generation of electricity and became operational in 19995. The organization has been authorized to construct, own, operate and maintain power generation stations for the supply of electricity.
• Iskraemeco Group:²⁸ Iskraemeco supports its customers in mastering their digital transformation journey toward a more sustainable and efficient future. They provide solutions for energy, water, eMobility, and digital platforms, drawing on over seven decades of experience.