Potential of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) in Zimbabwe

This study seeks to assess the potential of utilizing Concentrated Solar Power for electricity generation in Zimbabwe. Data from 26 meteorological stations which are widely distributed around the country was used to map the distribution of solar radiation. Geographic information systems were employed to locate sites with potential for installing concentrating solar power plants. Areas with good potential were identified by using the following assessment factors: direct normal irradiance (DNI), proximity to transmission lines and water bodies, flatness of the area and the vulnerability of vegetation and wild life. After considering all the assessment factors, a total area of 250 000 km2 was found to be suitable. If only 10% of the suitable land area is used and the technology with the least efficiency (8-10%) is adopted, about 71.4 GW can be generated. The projected power generation is about thirty times the current power demand of the country.