The state of renewable energy in Zambia.
Name: CHOLA CHIBUYE
Introduction:
Renewable energy is energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed.
Sunlight and wind, for example, are such sources that are constantly being replenished.
Zambia has a variety of renewable energies, the main ones being Hydropower and solar energy.
Hydropower:
Zambia has an estimated large-hydro power potential of
6,000MW, of which less than 2,000MW has been harnessed. This is due to the infrastructure that has not been
developed fully. Available capacity is 1,811MW and projected capacity by 2017 is 3,116 mw. Hydropower generation
has the potential to satisfy the entire national demand for energy.
At first glance, hydropower seems a natural for Zambia. The country benefits from the water flows of the mighty
Zambezi and Kafue Rivers, and hydropower is a clean and renewable fuel source. With this in mind, Zambia built
major hydropower plants to supply nearly all its electricity needs.
But hydropower has a fatal flaw: Chronic drought lowers water levels to the point where power production is severely
curtailed. Droughts in recent years have produced electricity shortages estimated at nearly one-third of Zambia’s total
installed hydroelectric capacity of 2,380 megawatts.
In 2019, water levels in the Kariba dam plunged to their lowest level since 1996, falling to 10% of usable storage.
“This is probably the worst drought that has ever hit Zambia since independence” in 1964, Energy Minister Matthew
Nkhuwa told parliament.
Drought caused by climate change is not the only flaw in Zambia’s energy policy, however. Chronic under-investment
in hydro projects has also caused problems. Even when enough rain falls, power supply cannot keep up with demand
from the mining, manufacturing and agriculture industries.
But the biggest problem is that Zambia is over-dependent on hydro energy, a fuel source that is subject to the
unpredictability of the weather. According to the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the country
draws 85% of its power from hydro projects.
As droughts cause chronic and prolonged blackouts, Zambia is looking to reduce its dependence on hydropower by
developing other renewable fuel sources, such as solar and wind. These fuel sources are as clean as hydropower and
can help reduce Zambia’s dependence on rainfall for its electricity.
Solar and wind projects have another key advantage: these power plants can be smaller and more decentralised than
most hydro dams, and can be connected to micro-grids supplying under-served communities. That is important in
Zambia, where the countryside lacks access to power. According to USAID, only four percent of the rural population
in Zambia has access to electricity.
Solar energy:
Zambia is a landlocked country in southern Africa that receives between “2,000 to 3,000 hours of sunshine per year.”
The country benefits greatly from its location along the Zambezi and Kafue Rivers and has become highly dependent
on hydropower, with hydroelectric dams providing more than 85% of its total energy in 2021. Unfortunately, recent
droughts have led to prolonged blackouts and an increase in energy poverty across the country. To help combat this
issue, the government is investing in a new source of renewable energy: solar power. Solar power in Zambia has the
potential to transform the country’s economy along with the lives of citizens.
Zambia Electricity Supply Corp. (ZESCO) has launched a tender for the development and construction of 50 MW of
PV plants in the Southern, Western, and Luapula provinces of Zambia.
The state-owned utility said the selected developer will own 90% of the facilities, while ZESCO will hold the
remaining 10%. It did not provide any additional details about the proposed projects. Interested investors have until
Sept. 2 to submit their proposals.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Zambia had 96 MW of installed solar power at
the end of 2021, with around 95 MW deployed in 2019 alone. The country has been supporting solar through the
Scaling Solar program and the Zambian REFiT Strategy, which is an initiative developed with the support of
Germany's KfW Development Bank.
The Zambian government aims to deploy 500 MW of solar PV by 2023, in order to ease chronic power shortages. The
sub-Saharan country currently relies on 2.8 GW of installed power, with about 85% coming from hydropower. Its
access to electricity is about 30%.
Average solar insolation is roughly 5.5 kWh/m2/day, with approximately 3,000 sunshine hours annually. Solar usage
has remained relatively low due to high initial cost (Zambia Energy Sector Profile, 2013).
EIA reports that every square meter (m2) of the earth’s surface, when exposed to direct sunlight, receives about 1,000
watts (1 kilowatt) of energy from the suns light.
This means for example, if the sun’s light provides 6 productive hours of solar energy per day, then a square meter
(m2) of land in direct sunlight will receive about 6 kw/h of solar energy during the course of the day. Solar power is a
cost-effective method for rural electrification and a compliment to existing auto-generation in the country.
Development of the country’s solar resource is still relatively slow; despite numerous past projects that have proven
the effectiveness of solar technology e.g. European Union-funded installations in healthcare centres.
Wind energy
Wind power uses naturally occurring air flows to turn turbines, that in turn, generate electricity. It has become one of
the most cost effective renewable energy technologies around the world, and is widely used in both the developing
and developed world.
In Zambia, the benefit of wind power is that wind is usually stronger in the winter, when water levels and hydro
generation are lower. Therefore it is a good way for Zambia to diversify its energy mix and become less exposed to
drought. Unlike other power generation technologies, people can continue their daily lives on the site once
construction is finished.
Wind speeds average 2.5m/s at 10m above the ground, a
speed that is mainly suitable for mechanical applications. Seven (7) areas have been identified as viable for off-grid
wind power generation. The Department of Energy has plans to develop a wind atlas to identify areas
where electricity can be generated from wind. Evidence shows that a wind turbine with capacity of 2.5-3 MW can
produce more than 6 million kWh in a year, enough to supply 1,500 average households with electricity. There is need
for investment in identified opportunities.
Mphepo Power is a Zambian renewable energy company, focussed on the development of wind power in Eastern
Province, Zambia.
It is a collaboration between the local Chewa community, under the leadership of Kalonga Gawa Undi, and three
professional renewable energy companies: Oswald and Kapata, Western Renewable Power and Buffalo Energy.
While we will develop the first generation project in the east of the country, all the power produced is intended to be
delivered to the national grid, for the benefit of all Zambians no matter where they live. As an investment, the projects
will be transformative to the region through job creation and by helping local businesses.
Mphepo Power has a number of sites across Eastern Province. The first planned site, called ‘Unika I’, is near Katete.
The planned capacity for Unika I is 150 – 300MW, and following the successful completion of this first project,
Mphepo plan to construct other similar sized phases elsewhere in Eastern Province.
Currently, Mphepo Power is finalising the feasibility study for the Project, including wind measurements, IFC
Standard Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Engineering Designs.
The intention is to begin construction in second half of 2021 with commercial operations starting in 2023.
Biomass Energy:
Woodlands and forests are estimated to cover about 50
million hectares or 66 % of Zambia’s total land area. According to the ministry of Energy, 341,000 units of biogas
digesters are currently operational in the country. “A biogas digester is a piece of equipment, which can turn organic
waste into usable fuel. The biogas digester relies on bacterial decomposition of waste material (biomass) that attracts
bacterial organisms, which emit
a number of distinctive gases, most notably methane (a gas that can be collected and burned as a fuel)”.With ample
forest coverage, and dedicated support from the government, an integrated household-level biogas program is a viable
solution.
Sugar cane is being grown in three provinces, and processed by three different companies with a projected capacity of
483,000 tonnes of sugar per year. At present no ethanol1 is being produced by the main sugar growing companies, but
Lee Yeast Ltd in Kafue (Lusaka Province) produces ethanol from molasses purchased from Zambia Sugar Plc.” This
presents a significant opportunity to harness the biomass energy as a supplement to the demands in Zambia. (Ibid,
2013)
More than 90% of Zambia’s rural population relies on traditional biomass fuel sources such as collected firewood,
charcoal, agricultural waste or dried manure to meet their daily energy needs, leading to widespread deforestation. The
country’s deforestation rate is estimated to be around 1.5% per year, circa 250,000 to 300,000 ha being deforested
(corresponding with the highest deforestation rates in the world). In addition, charcoal has an adverse effect on the
health of the population, as it leads to respiratory and eye diseases and contributes to other health problems caused by
dangerous pollutants.
Therefore, already in 2018–2019, People in Need, with the support of the CzDA, implemented two pilot projects
aimed at developing the biogas market in the Western Province of Zambia. “Monitoring of the pilot phase has shown
high satisfaction of Zambian farmers supported by the construction of biogas stations. Farmers were very satisfied
with better access to clean and renewable energy for cooking, with the time saved thanks to this technology, with its
economic advantages and with the benefits of biogas for increasing agricultural production,” says project manager
Ondej Suchánek from People in Need.
Biogas plants can produce gas from animal droppings and food scraps, easily usable by households for cooking or
lighting. Gas can thus replace wood and charcoal, current source of energy for majority of the population. An
alternative form of obtaining energy in the form of biogas plants has thus proven to be an effective way to contribute
to increasing resistance to climate change and to stabilizing the food security of small farmers. The aim of the current
project is to continue raising awareness of biogas while helping to build another 130 biogas plants for residents in
Mongu and Kalabo districts in the Western Province of Zambia.
Geothermal energy
Currently, there is only one small un-operational geothermal generation plant in Zambia (2 x 120kW), which was
developed under an Italian Government initiative in 1987 and is located at the Kapisya hot springs. Recent estimates
indicate that the plant can be upgraded to produce 2MW of electricity. Efforts are underway by ZESCO to revive and
expand the plant, pending the construction of a 22 km access road by Government.
The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) in 2019 developed the Scaling Up Renewable Energy Programs
(SREP) and the Investment Plan (IP) and prioritized Geothermal Development as one of the three components for the
SREP-Zambia IP. The objective of the geothermal programme was to (1) Promote use of geothermal resource for
electricity generation and agro-industrial activities and (2) Improve affordability of geothermal electricity generation
by mitigating investment risk. The Geothermal programme was estimated at $45 million (USD) and would include the
development of a policy enabling framework as well as facilitate the development of at least 15 MW of utility scalegeothermal power. The GRZ is still looking for funds to develop the programme
According to The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA)
2013 Energy Profile, Zambia has more than 80 hot springs with heated water of meteoric origin. The springs have not
been tapped for industrial or energy provision purposes due to high operational cost.
Kapisya Hot springs is an example of installations that have been constructed. Zambia Development Agency (ZDA)
2013 further reports that efforts are being made by the National Electricity Utility- ZESCO to revive the plant and also
the government is working to make the road accessible so that works progress to revamp Kapisya Hot Springs and
commence power generation.
Conclusion:
Zambia isn't a developed country but a developing country, in the next coming years with the upcoming projects, the
renewable energy industry will be on an extremely better level. With the use of renewable energy, renewable and new
technologies will attract foreign direct investment and can be used to develop the economy following the negative
effects of poor rainfall in the past few years and COVID-19. There has been recent growth in industrial activity which
has increased the demand for energy.
References:
Government of the republic of Zambia (GRZ), Rural Electrification Master Plan for Zambia
(REMP), (2008-2030)
International Energy Agency (IEA), World Energy Outlook, 2012
Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water development www.mewd.gov.zm
Ministry of Finance, Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP) Annual Progress Report, 2012
Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Zambia Review, 2012/2013 13th edition
Office for Promoting Private Power Infrastructure (OPPPI) www.opppi.gov.zm
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy Database (REEEP) www.reeep.org
Southern Africa Power Pool Report, 2012
Stephen Karekezi, Renewable Energy Development Report: African Experts on
Operationalizing the NEPAD energy initiative, June 2003.
USAID Zambia Rural Electrification Master Plan; Phase 1 Rapid Resources Assessment,
Final Report
United Nations Department of Public Information, Africa Renewal journal, August 2013
www.un.org/africarenewal
United Nation Information System, (UNIS) Energy Exploration Resource
World Health Organisation (WHO) 2008
Zambia Electricity supply corporation (ZESCO) www.zesco.co.zm
Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation, (ZESCO) Load shed Profile (2008)
Zambia Electricity supply (ZESCO) Newsletter (January-April2013)
Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Energy sector profile, June 2013, ZDA
Borgen Project DEVELOPING SOLAR POWER IN ZAMBIA– Hannah Gage
PVmagazine
www.mphepopower.com
www.czechaid.cz/en/in-zambia-czda-supports-a-project-using-biogas-te
chnology-as-a-source-of-sustainable-energy-and-organic-fertilizer/
www.globalgeothermalalliance.org/Regions-and-Countries/Countries/Zambia