Zambezi River Authority Considers Building Floating Solar Plant at Kariba Dam, Zimbabwe

• Zambezi River Authority, which runs Kariba Dam in Zimbabwe, is seeking to utilize floating solar panels to create power after plummeting water levels strengthened power outages in Zambia and also Zimbabwe.

Munyaradzi Munodawafa, CEO of the Zambezi River Authority, claimed that it would add solar capacity to the surface area of the Kariba Dam on Zambezi river, would certainly supplement more than 2,100 megawatts of hydropower capacity.

Zambezi River Authority, which runs Kariba Dam in Zimbabwe, is wanting to utilize floating photovoltaic panels to create power after plummeting water levels deepened power outages in Zambia as well as Zimbabwe.

Munyaradzi Munodawafa, Chief Executive Officer of the Zambezi River Authority, claimed that it would include solar capacity to the surface area of the Kariba Dam on Zambezi river, would supplement greater than 2,100 megawatts of hydropower capacity.

A similar proposal is being considered for the close-by Batoka Gorge, where another hydro project is being created, he informed. "There are lots of areas that can give solar," Munodawafa claimed.

The floating photovoltaic panels have actually obtained popularity in the last few years, according to the International Energy Agency. The installations stay clear of completing for land, boost returns as a result of the cooling result of water, as well as have the possible to lower the dissipation of water bodies. The large-scale projects have been planned for reservoirs in India as well as Singapore.

An extended dry spell has cut output at Kariba as well as resulted in Zambia and Zimbabwe's state power energies being incapable to fulfill electricity demand. Overuse of the dam compounded the trouble at the start of the year, when tank levels was up to less than 1% of usable storage. While inflows have actually been picking up given that January, the terminal is likewise at risk to the impacts of environment change. The chief executive officer even more notified that rains patterns have actually become an issue, confirmed by the absence of inflows to the dam from the Gwayi River in Zimbabwe.

The Zambian as well as Zimbabwean utilities are yet to decide on using the floating solar panels as well as determine just how much such a project would cost, Munodawafa said.

The CEO of the Zambezi River Authority exposed that there is another proposition being mulled for a 2,400 MW Bakota Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station. This will certainly also be situated on the Zambezi River.