BULAWAYO, Jul 27 (Southern Eye Live) -Zimbabwe’s solar revolution is moving beyond a response to power shortages, with businesses and institutions increasingly investing in renewable energy to cut electricity costs, reduce their carbon footprint and meet the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) requirements.
While the initial growth in solar installations was largely driven by persistent power challenges, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) says companies are now turning to solar for strategic reasons beyond keeping operations running during outages.
ZERA chief executive officer Edington Mazambani said the increase in solar adoption should not only be viewed as a reaction to electricity shortages, but also as part of a wider shift towards cleaner and more cost-effective energy solutions.
“The response is yes and no. Yes, in the sense that the solar installations done in the country were primarily driven by the need to have reliable energy supply, given the power shortages that the country had been experiencing,” Mazambani said.
He said the growth of solar installations was a sign of increased renewable energy adoption, rather than evidence that the national electricity utility had failed consumers.
“ZERA certainly sees this as a success of renewable energy adoption and not necessarily the failure of the electricity utility. The increased deployment of solar systems by customers is rather viewed as complementary and helping customers to reduce their electricity bills,” he said.
Zimbabwe has seen a rapid increase in solar installations among commercial and industrial users, as companies seek more predictable energy costs and greater control over their electricity supply.
Mazambani said many organisations were now motivated to install solar systems because of financial and sustainability considerations.
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“Most institutions and organisations are now motivated to install solar systems with a view to reduce their electricity bills, carbon footprint and the need to comply with the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) requirements,” he said.
The growing interest in solar energy also comes as Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations gain importance in corporate decision-making.The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) has previously highlighted the need for stronger sustainability reporting and responsible business practices, particularly in sectors such as mining where investors are increasingly demanding greater transparency on environmental and social impacts.
ESG considerations have become increasingly important globally, with companies under pressure to demonstrate responsible environmental practices, ethical governance and positive social impact as they seek investment and access to international markets.
The regulator said the growth of solar has also been supported by initiatives such as net metering, allowing customers who generate excess electricity from renewable sources to feed it back into the grid.
Mazambani said solar adoption was increasing across commercial, industrial and domestic sectors, with net metering statistics showing growing participation.
The shift comes as Zimbabwe seeks to address its energy challenges while attracting investment and improving the reliability of electricity supply.
Mazambani said ZERA also recognised improvements in electricity availability, noting that the power utility had gone 213 days without load shedding.
“ZERA also commend the power utility at this juncture for running for 213 days of no load shedding,” he said.
