Northwood community set to launch solar power initiative

Peter Tanyanyiwa Suburban Reporter

Residents of Northwood in Mt Pleasant are taking significant steps towards energy independence through replicating the Borrowdale Residents and Ratepayers Association (BRRA) proposed solar energy project.

BRRA is working with the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) in an ambitious endeavour to ensure uninterrupted power supply for Ward 18 residents through solar net metering and power ring-fencing.

According to the BRRA, the initiative aims to enhance the reliability and sustainability of power supply to Ward 18 residents through a two-pronged approach:

• Power ring-fencing: dedicating a portion of power supply to serve the BRRA community to provide a more reliable and consistent power supply to the neighbourhood.
• Solar Net Metering: where solar systems are installed and excess power fed back into the national grid.

In an interview on Wednesday, Mt Pleasant community leader Mr David Panganai expressed his commitment to mobilising residents toward solar energy solutions.

“We aim to invite suppliers who can offer affordable terms, making it feasible for everyone to join this initiative. ZETDC’s recent policy allows them to purchase excess energy from solar installations, which translates to improved power supply and reduced outages for all. For those who can invest in higher-end packages, like 10-15 kVA systems, they can go completely off-grid, thereby relieving ZETDC of some of the demand. This is our own Northwood initiative,” said Mr Panganai.

BRRA chairperson Mr Robert Mutyasira told residents in a letter outlining the initiative that the residents’ body is now conducting an information gathering exercise in Ward 18 and residents have been requested to supply their details if they are interested.

“Members residing in the area who are interested in the scheme are encouraged to submit details in order to facilitate the development of concrete solutions and to pave way for an MOU (memorandum of understanding) and rollout plan,” Mr Mutyasira wrote to residents.

The initiatives in Borrowdale and Northwood come at a time, the roll-out of the Presidential Solar Scheme pilot project has begun, with 80 houses in Glen View connected in the past week. The Presidential Solar Scheme involves renting and installing solar panels on rooftops of houses for free while solar energy generated from these panels will be fed into the national grid.

In return, Zesa has agreed in principle to suspend load-shedding in areas participating in the scheme, while homeowners will receive a token of appreciation.

On Sunday, The Herald visited Glen View 3 where the installation of solar panels on a pilot project covering 400 households is underway.

The project is being implemented by Zimbabwe Solar Energy Company (ZISEC), a subsidiary of the Prevail Group International (PGI).

A Glen View resident, Ms Yamikani Gideon, showed the news team the whole solar package including an inverter, which feeds electricity into the national grid.

“We are happy with the Presidential Solar Scheme. There is no longer load shedding in this area,” she said.

“Sometimes we would experience power outages for about 12 houses.”

Another resident Mrs Manyara Dhlakama, said the project was a game-changer.

“We are at a loss for words over what our President has done for us. His projects since 2018 have been positively impacting lives.

“At first, we benefited from the Presidential Borehole Drilling Scheme and now it is solar. As a community we are grateful that the national pilot project has been initiated in our area.

“Load shedding is now a thing of the past here. Even robbers and thieves that used to take advantage of to terrorise people at night are in trouble as there are lights everywhere.”

Mrs Phoebe Ziwange, who has lived in Glen View 3 for over 40 years, said power outages had become a major problem in the area.

“We are really excited over this initiative. Power cuts were a challenge. It was even a danger to have meat in the refrigerator, but all that is now a closed chapter following the intervention by our President,” she said.

For Mr Alexio Ngwendere, the major excitement comes from the role reversal where they are now getting some money from Zesa instead of the previous headache where they had to look for money for electricity tokens.

“We are now generating our own electricity, which we are selling to Zesa. So, we are now guaranteed a constant electricity supply.

“Children can now read using electricity in the evening and we save money that we used to spend on candles when there was no power.

“We thank our President for giving us this programme. Even the pass rate will be better this year given that our children will read without interruption,” he said.

Others believe their backyard businesses, mainly welding, barber shops and chicken rearing, will thrive on the back of constant power supply.

Prevail Group International chairperson, Dr Paul Tungwarara, said the programme will not only reduce power challenges but become a source of income for residents.

“The programme started about seven days ago and we have done 70 to 80 houses already. Now our teams are putting solar panels, once they finish installation, they go inside putting inverters and feeding into the national grid straight away.

“So far, we are targeting, as a pilot, about 400 houses. That should be completed very soon and the electricity will be fed into the national grid. Then His Excellency (President Mnangagwa) will come and officially open these 400 houses,” he said.

Dr Tungwarara said the programme would be rolled out countrywide so that no one and no place is left behind.