South Africa’s northern neighbor has set out to generate electricity with solar panels. The local regulator granted a license to the first private photovoltaic project.The installed capacity of a solar power plant will reach 100 megawatts.
The first private entity to be authorized to supply Botswana’s electricity grid with electricity from solar power plants is the local company Shumba Energy. The 100 megawatt project will be implemented in two phases. The first 50 megawatts will be built in six months, the rest later. “We have a permit, we are now finishing securing funding. The investment will reach around $ 80 million for the entire project, “Mashale Phumaphi, a photovoltaic project manager, told Reuters.
Botswana has so far met its energy needs with coal. Botswana has huge coal reserves of over 200 billion tons. But the country has decided to open up to renewable resources. By 2030, their share of the energy mix is set to increase to 18 percent. So it is likely that more solar projects will come. Just because Botswana is one of the most intense sunshine areas in the world.
