THE Global shift towards clean energy around the world has not left Zimbabwe behind from the clean energy race.
Nations are making ambitious strides to transition from fossil fuels to cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions.
In the face of rising global temperatures, increased natural disasters, and growing concerns over energy independence, countries are increasingly turning to Renewable energy as the solution to these challenges.
However all these challenges and solutions require sound and trustworthy partnerships. As a country we should continue setting national deployment targets, which therefore call for a massive deployment of clean energy technologies on a broader scale. There's a need to balance our economic needs, energy security, and environmental goals, while ensuring that the transition is inclusive and equitable.
Zimbabwe's position in clean energy development
As the country continues to accelerate its energy needs, I believe the National Energy Compact Goals should address more on achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, this is practical since Zimbabwe was not yet heavily industrialized. However, with the current serious investments in the manufacturing and mining sectors, the country should commit to achieve at least 60% of its energy capacity from renewables by 2030.
With the coming in of the highly awaited 600MW solar floating farm in Kariba by Q1 of 2026, which is also scalable to 1000MW gives a plus to the country.
This significant commitment towards renewable adoption is bringing a lot of confidence to the citizens of Zimbabwe.
As I always point on transitional issues, Zimbabwe is rapidly emerging as a regional leader in the clean energy transition. However, more strategic investments in green hydrogen, electric vehicles, solar rooftops, small modular reactors and energy storage systems (BESS) will not only advance our own energy transformation, but will play a pivotal role in the global shift towards a cleaner and a greener future.
The future is no longer tomorrow, but we are already experiencing it now, meaning the time to build a robust green energy grid is now, and supporting innovations in battery storage, aiming for at least 8GW battery storage by 2035.
National schemes
Our country should take more measures to support its clean energy transition. These key schemes will enhance the design and the promotion of renewable projects across the entire country.
For the past three months I have been touring the country's rural communities and I noticed the need for an urgent rural smart green energy scheme, however as I was in the midst of completing my rural energy scheme blue print, I was more happy to see rural electrification agency bringing access to clean energy much closer to our people.
These are what we call practical schemes which should be heralded by men and women of development.
Enhancing energy access promotes peace, development, access to modern health care and industrialization.
As we continue to witness and implement such developments, we should concurrently introduce what is called the green energy corridors, these ensure the smooth transmission of all renewable clean energy.
Green corridors are a product of other schemes which are known as production-linked incentives.
These have the capacity to foster domestic manufacturing in clean energy sectors, thereby providing economic stimulus while advancing sustainability goals in our rural communities.
Let's all not be left behind waiting for others to do it for us, rural tourism is now a reality, rural Industrialisation is becoming the hub of our national manufacturing, hence the need to completely support any new technology within the energy industry.
Renewable energy dominance
With Vision 2030 now entering into its final 5 year implementation under NDS2, our collaboration with other players within the energy sector should seek to manufacture all renewable energy products in Zimbabwe, dominance is measured by what you manufacture, the country should improve its manufacturing capacity especially on solar panels, lithium batteries, cables, transmission and switchgear.
These will reduce our over dependents on imports and loss of excessive foreign currency.
My job is not only to advance advice, but to continue transmitting information for free. Recently the state utility signed a partnership agreement to start manufacturing pre-paid meters, EV chargers and many more accessories which are more essential in the construction of renewable energy plants, such progress increases not only the GDP of our country, but it removes over dependence on imports, it ushers stability, sovereignty, dignity and attracts more investments into the country.
As long as the country survives on 90 percent of imports, our economy will remain choked. Now that 2026 is two weeks away, we need to accelerate our PPPs so as to win as a team.
Expanding battery energy storage solutions
Energy storage solutions are a pivotal component in the energy matrix, especially as the country is the fifth largest producer of lithium in the world and not forgetting that Zimbabwe is now the fifth largest economy in SADC.
We should be able to harness all our important minerals, which are under our country's belly. Investments in lithium-ion and other storage systems are essential as they balance supply-demand fluctuations, enhance grid reliability, and support renewable energy storage.
Once the country continues to encourage such local production and apply incentives, a lot of international investors will flood our renewable energy components manufacturing market, and this will position Zimbabwe to become the energy basket of Africa, not in power generation alone but also in the manufacturing of all electrical components.
The Iron and steel Industry has brought the prices of steel down, meaning all Transmission tower materials are now locally manufactured and easily accessible at a much cheaper price.
As the world watches, Zimbabwe's transition to clean energy is not just a national necessity- it is a crucial step in the global fight against climate change. Zimbabwe wants to empower her children.
With sustained efforts, innovative policies, and international collaborations, Zimbabwe is poised to emerge an energy superpower within the next 10 years, leading the way towards a more sustainable and resilient global energy landscape.
*For more of these innovative solutions, Edzai Kachirekwa can be contacted on ceo@powergiantsgroup.com