Zimbabwe: Electrification Agency Considers Solar System

via ALL AFRICA

The Rural Electrification Agency is considering introducing solar mini-grid systems to reduce demand on hydro-electricity in light of the power deficit threatening countries in the Sadc region, an official said yesterday.

REA project manager Mr Emmanuel Midzi said the agency had started installing the solar mini-grid systems in rural clinics and in secondary schools that received computers from President Mugabe.

"We have so far installed 13 countrywide in schools and clinics," he said.

The solar mini-grid system uses inverters that convert direct current generated from solar into alternating current to produce 220 volts.

Conventional solar systems use solar panels connected to a battery and generate 12 volts.

Mr Midzi said advantages of the mini-grid system were that the consumable spare parts such as globes were readily available in the country and it used energy efficiently that the battery would last up to four days without sunshine.

He said the other advantage was that the system used the same wiring infrastructure with the electricity grid so that it did not have to be dismantled when connecting to the national grid. The system could power small fridges and computers and did not require surge protectors in case of power cuts and surges.

"It is an opportunity to introduce renewable energy to those that want it," said Mr Midzi.

As a result of interest the public was showing in the mini-grid system, REA was exploring supply markets for the cost-effective equipment.

Mr Midzi said the mini-grid systems were readily available in most industrialised countries including China and India.

He said REA expected the local industry to participate in the programme by manufacturing the components that they could.

Countries in the Sadc region are facing a power deficit due to increasing demand, with the situation expected to worsen by 2015.

Zimbabwe embarked on electrification of rural areas to improve living standards of communities and curb rural-to-urban migration.