Bulawayo is in the region where the sun shines for over 10 months per year, creating an opportunity for solar farms. The land for such projects is available. There are also opportunities in projects that convert waste to energy to take advantage of the millions of tonnes of waste generated in the province. Zimbabwe has a significant energy deficit which necessitates load-shedding from time to time. The whole S.A.D.C region has a net deficit of power. This opens the opportunity for the energy investor to export part of the power produced to neighboring countries, thereby accessing foreign currency as part of the return on investment.
Bulawayo Province has identified solar power as a sustainable and much cheaper source of power in the long run. The City is encouraging a diverse portfolio of investment in the sector which includes:
- Construction of another hydro power stations-use recycled water
- Solar Farms
- Installations of solar panels in the City’s prominent Buildings and industries, i.e the Tower-block
- Installations of Solar Panels at the City’s Dams and Waste- water and Sewer Treatment plants
- Floating Solar Farms in Council Dams whereby Solar farms are erected in all BCC water Bodies such as all the Lower Ncema dam.
- Construction of solar power stations;
- Erect Solar Powered Streetlights, street robots, solar rooftops technology and solar powered digital Bus Stops;
- Encourage construction of Solar Powered Service Stations and solar charging stations
The benefits of investing in Solar are far Reaching as ultimately they will result in the reduction of the City’s Carbon Footprint below are further investment opportunities found in Solar Energy:
- Solar Powered Streetlights eg Masiyephambili road
- Solar Powered Robots
- Solar Rooftops Technology
- Solar Powered Digital Bus Stops
- Solar Charging Stations
- Solar Geysers
- Solar Powered Service Stations/ other buildings eg Clinics
