500MW solar plant to turn Vic Falls into smart city

VICTORIA Falls is moving closer to becoming a smart tourism and green destination following plans to construct a renewable energy exhibition park and a 500MW solar plant which will be complemented by a tidal river plant on the Zambezi River.

The project is being carried out by Southpole Consulting, an international company that was granted Special Economic Zone (SEZ) designation by the Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (Zida). Since then, a 300-hectare plot of land close to the Victoria Falls International Airport has been chosen for the solar farm project. The 500MW will accelerate Zimbabwe's efforts to achieve energy self-sufficiency once they come online. Crucially, the power would increase the amount of energy available for residential and commercial consumers who are now impacted by load shedding as a result of Lake Kariba's low water levels. In order to combat the consequences of climate change, there is a global push to reduce the usage of thermal electricity, which makes solar energy even more significant.

There was an increase in the supply of electricity when Zimbabwe finished expanding Hwange Power Station, adding 600MW through a US$1.4 billion facility from China. However, low water levels in Lake Kariba as a result of El Nino forced a significant decrease in power generation. Zimbabwe should go closer to energy self-sufficiency with the help of the 500MW Victoria Falls and the recently constructed 600MW from Hwange, in addition to power from Independent Power Producers and the other six units. Engineer Tendai Tidings Musasa, director of special projects at Southpole Consulting, stated that the multi-million dollar project is anticipated to begin on June 3rd, when the pilot stages would begin.

Since the Zambezi River Authority owns rights to the tidal river plant project as part of the proposed US$4,5 billion Batoka Gorge Hydro Electric Project, Eng Musasa stated that Southpole Consulting is collaborating closely with the authority on this project. When the project is completed, Victoria Falls—a city designated as an International Financial Services Center and Special Economic Zone—will have reached a significant milestone (IFSC). As Victoria Falls gets closer to being a smart city, utilizing collaborations between the public and commercial sectors, a further 100MW solar farm is already being built, with plans for the first 25MW of solar panels.

According to Eng Musasa, the enormous project will boost eco-tourism in Victoria Falls, a city whose economy is centered on travel. Particularly with the introduction of hydrogen technology, the city will serve as the focal point of regional development. He stated that there are plans to build a permanent exposition center dedicated to renewable energy on the property close to the airport. The Victoria Falls 100 Percent Renewable Energy Global Exhibition Summit will then take place at the center. Clinically, the Victoria Falls Special Economic Zone is our main concern. According to Eng Musasa, "Victoria Falls needs those incentives to digest the kind of investment that we are bringing because our field of play requires a lot of international input."

On our 300 hectares of land adjacent to the Victoria Falls Airport, we intend to build a data center and a 500 MW solar power plant. We believed that, following its designation as an IFSC, Victoria Falls was now ready for an exhibition of this kind to take advantage of meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (Mice). Because Victoria Falls is a competitive travel destination, according to Eng Musasa, they have partnered with International Renewable Energy. "We integrate it with the permanent display because we are both focused on the same location. Thus, the airport may host the 6th International Renewable Energy Conference," he stated.

According to Eng Musasa, the proposal is based on the goodwill generated by the 100 Percent Summit, a permanent exhibition, and the International Renewable Energy Conference. The focus in this instance will be on renewable energy, he explained. "It will be the same model just like the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair and HarareShow Grounds, which are held permanently at the Zimbabwe Exhibition Centre and the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show." According to Eng Musasa, Zimbabwe has to take a cue from neighboring nations like Namibia and South Africa that have made investments in hydrogen technology.

"Southpole Consulting is solely focused on renewable energy industry, and the Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency has proclaimed us a SEZ. With the marketing of hydrogen technology and renewable energy, we have advanced," he declared. Since tourism is the main driver of Victoria Falls' economy, clean hydrogen double-decker buses could benefit the entire Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area. According to Eng Musasa, the exhibition will open on June 3.

The first stage of this year's exhibition will run from June 3 to June 17 and features a shipping container architecture setup in a 300-ha botanical park located north of the airport. "We have committed to establishing an airport park for the solar park, and June 3rd will serve as an introduction to the exhibition's world," he stated. "We aim to install this on a 99 kilowatt solar PV plant located in the airport park that does not have a license. In Victoria Falls, we want to "walk the walk" by erecting a solar and tidal river pilot plant that will power the whole display.

Eng Musasa said the solar and exhibition park projects will significantly benefit the community through job opportunities and also expanding local conference facilities capacity.