Botswana fiber optic energy storage power station

How many solar power plants are being built in Botswana?

4 new solar and thermal power plants are planned for construction by the government of Botswana within the next six years. The new facilities will bring into the Southern Africa country energy mix a combined capacity of approximately 610 MW.

What will Botswana's new power plants do?

The new facilities will bring into the Southern Africa country energy mix a combined capacity of approximately 610 MW. This plan is a part of the government’s energy policy and it will enable Botswana to fully satisfy its demand for electricity while diversifying its sources of production.

Will a grid-connected solar project help Botswana meet its electricity demand?

Botswana has launched its first utility scale grid-connected solar project which is expected to help the country meet its electricity demand. Botswana has launched the first phase of a solar project expected to be delivered by next year.

Does Botswana need a 40% shareholding for solar power?

For utility scale grid-connected solar plants, which include Mmadinare and Jwaneng, Masisi said a mandatory requirement of 40% shareholding by citizen owned companies was provided. Botswana is rich in natural resources and has vast solar energy potential, receiving more than 3,200 hours of sunshine per year.

Why did Botswana build a 600 MW coal power plant?

By then Botswana had planned to build a 600 MW Morupule B coal Power plant to support the existing aged 132MW Morupule A Coal Power plant. The two plants were adequate to meet the national demand. As the SADC region was experiencing power shortage, private sector showed interest in investing on power generation.

Does Botswana have hydro power?

There is no hydro power potential in Botswana. The existing power generation system of Botswana is based on fossil fuels and consists of two coal-fired power plants and two diesel generators. The bulk of electricity produced locally comes from the coal-fired plant Morupule B, with the other coal-fired power plant being Morupule A.