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Taming energy poverty in rural areas

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A NEED for energy, especially for lighting and other uses such as water-heating, has seen many investing in the reliable and sustainable Distributed Renewable Energy (DREs) systems.
DRE systems generate clean and renewable electricity on site.
The term distributed generation distinguishes these systems from the large, centralised power plants that provide the country’s power. Distributed renewable energy systems can take many forms, including geothermal systems, micro-hydroelectric systems, solar panels and wind turbines.
The increasing number of solar panels patched on roofs across the country are evidence of their efficiency and reliability.
Efforts are still being made to connect the whole country to the national grid to access electricity, but lack of resources as a result of biting sanctions that have crippled the economy are slowing the rate of electrification.
While electrification has reached 80 percent in urban areas, rural electrification lags behind at around 20 percent.
The country primarily depends on coal, hydro electric power and biomass to meet its energy needs.
The country’s power supplies are presently being augmented by imports from South Africa and Mozambique.
Various players have emerged to fill the gap in power supply and Zonful Energy is one of the leading companies offering alternative sources of energy.
Speaking of the company’s endeavour to provide quality products for the Mhondoro-Ngezi community, Zonful Energy’s chief executive officer William Ponela said solar systems were the lasting solutions for communities.
“The Mhondoro-Ngezi community is a zone full of activity and our company felt it needed to find a different way to solve the energy poverty in that area,” Ponela said.
“We are in an industry where a lot of trial and error has occurred but we have done our research for the past five years and we are confident of our product.”
Ponela said what separated the company from the rest of service providers were the terms they offered clients.
“We are proud to be the only company giving these products on lines of credit and we are doing this because our quest is not just profit, but reduction of energy poverty in communities.”
Ponela said growing up in a rural setting with no electrical power had motivated him to venture into the renewable energy sector.
“I grew up in a rural setting, I know what energy poverty is,” he said.
“The experiences of kurumwa nenyoka nekurwadziwa maziso nechiutsi and going to sleep early because there was no lighting or any form of entertainment, was what motivated me to find solutions for the people experiencing energy poverty.
“We grew up facing challenges wrought by looking for firewood in bushes, we performed these chores sometimes on our way from school. Naturally throughout high school and college I worked towards finding solutions that would address energy poverty in a manner affordable to rural communities.”
According to Ponela, it is critical for the populace to understand that DRE systems were not expensive as they saved households money in the long run.
A beneficiary of the Zonful Energy in Mhondoro-Ngezi, Emmah Mutema (74), said the system has transformed her life for better.
“We are now living in ‘Harare’ because we now simply switch our lights on and off,” Emmah Mutema said.
“I have since done away with candles for lighting.”
Henry Mutema (44) said he wished the system delivered on favourable terms had come much earlier.
“I wish this system had come earlier, it has eradicated our power woes and saved us a lot of money,” he said.
The battery and convertor system is not expensive compared to other service providers.
The system provided by Zonful is offered under workable terms, I do not have to pay the whole amount at once but do it over an 18-month period,” he said.
Councilor James Hombe said while the solar programme identified only 20 people per ward, Zonful Energy had to increase its reach to ensure that more people accessed and made use of solar energy.
“The payment terms are so easy that many people are eager to get connected,” he said.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), home solar systems in Africa can now provide electricity for many households for as little as US$56 a year – a cost lower than getting energy from diesel or kerosene.
Of the estimated 600 million people living off-grid in Africa, about 10 percent of them are now using off-grid clean energy to light their homes, according to IRENA statistics.
“About 60 million people may be using off-grid renewable electricity of some kind in Africa. That is about 10 percent of those living off–grid,” said IRENA
With these efforts in place, Zimbabwe’s Sustainable Energy Access for All (SE4ALL) by 2030, can be achieved.

1 COMMENT

  1. This is the kind of thing which makes me have hope that one day Zimbabwean will rise again. Zimbabwe has smart people who are capable of greatness

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