Solarcentury, ENRC partner on 100 MW solar project in Botswana

AFRICAN BUSINESS AND ECONOMYFebruary 11, 2024 at 10:08 AM UTC

TLDR

Solarcentury Africa and Energy & National Resource Corporation partner for a 100 MW solar project in Palapye, Botswana.
Project receives electricity generation license and completes grid impact assessment, advancing to next stages of development.
Environmental and social impact assessment underway to ensure responsible and sustainable development practices.

Solarcentury Africa Limited and Energy & National Resource Corporation (Botswana) Pty Ltd have partnered to develop and construct a 100 MW solar project near Palapye, Botswana. Positioned adjacent to the Morupule Coal Mine, this project marks a significant advancement in sustainable energy solutions for the region.

With the receipt of its electricity generation license from the Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority and the successful completion of its grid impact assessment with the Botswana Power Corporation, the project is poised to move forward to the next stages of development.

Formalizing their partnership through a Joint Development Agreement in 2023, Solarcentury and ENRC have been making substantial progress in securing all necessary approvals, agreements, and studies for the project. Simultaneously, an environmental and social impact assessment is underway to ensure responsible and sustainable development practices.

Key Takeaways

Despite its abundant sunshine, with 3,200 hours of sunshine per year, Botswana currently generates only a small fraction of its electricity from solar power, relying heavily on its vast coal reserves. In 2020, solar energy accounted for just 0.26% of the country's electricity generation, with only 6 megawatts (MW) of installed solar capacity out of a total of 890 MW of energy capacity. Coal dominates the energy mix, making up 99% of the total energy generated. Recognizing the need for a shift towards renewable energy sources, Botswana is adjusting its policies to attract investment in solar and other renewables. The government has begun involving the private sector in building new solar capacity, and in 2022, it inaugurated its first-ever utility-scale solar plant. Additionally, Botswana's Integrated Renewable Energy Plan, initially published in late 2020 and revised in 2022, sets ambitious targets for renewable energy adoption. The plan aims for renewables to constitute at least 30% of the energy mix by 2030 and 50% by 2036.

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