GRAPPLING with the increase in electricity tariffs by Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (Zesco), most businesses and residences will now have to cushion the impact of the tariff hike.
After August 1, 2010 residential customers will be facing a 41percent increase and large power consumers a 12 percent increase, followed by a 14 percent increase for the small power consumers.
With unlimited sunshine in Zambia, could alternative energy like solar power be an answer to the fuel and energy crisis?
According to the official energy statistics from the US government, solar power is one of the fastest growing sources of renewable energy worldwide. Demand for solar power increased due to government incentive programmes.
Over the years solar panels have become more efficient and the cost of production has decreased as a result of persistent research. Germany and Japan have now had one of the largest photovoltaic systems installed.
Solar power is a versatile and renewable form of energy derived from the sun and made possible by the solar cells present in the solar panels. One form of solar energy is photovoltaic which converts the sun’s radiation into electricity. This form of energy is used for small requirements like TVs and radios.
Another form of solar energy is solar thermal which converts the sun’s radiation into heat energy with the radiation of the sun like water heaters. Although solar thermal is three to four times more cost effective per unit of energy than photovoltaic, both are used for different applications.
Photovoltaic is common in rural areas as it provides electricity for clinics, fridges, housing and chief’s palaces. Solar thermal is used for food processing and drying or water heating.
Solar power could play a vital role in Zambia as the rural areas are far away from the electricity grid and communities are scattered. Electricity would be expensive and not practical either. Most people agree that solar energy needs to be considered because of growing energy demands, environmental problems and declining fossil fuel resources.
Therefore, solar energy may be installed for access to schools, clinics, water-pumping and irrigation. With the current affordable electricity prices compared to the high installation prices of solar systems, solar power is overlooked.
Solar power would be a viable choice for a small business like trading. However, it is not considered being a costly alternative energy source.
Large scale industries require high amounts of energy and solar energy would not be efficient as a large area would be required for the solar panels to be installed and this is clearly not suitable in inner cities. Furthermore, it needs to be developed to meet the load demand.
The efficiency of photovoltaic energy is low, therefore solar panels need to cover a large area and the location of the panels can affect their performance due to possible obstructions from the surrounding buildings or landscape.
As Charles Haanyika, an energy consultant at Resources for Infrastructure Development and Energy Studies says, ’solar technology is only 10 -15 per cent efficient for the amount of solar panels, one square metre only gives 150 watts kick.’
Mini-hydro power which is derived from flowing water from a gravity point of view has significant potential and Zambia has a number of water sources. Due to the nature of the resource, its efficiency is 75-80 per cent more than solar power.
Mini-hydro power costs $2,500 per kilowatt compared to solar power which is $300-$500 per 150 watts for a panel, battery and other equipment. Although solar energy may be considered as the most suitable alternative energy due to abundant sunshine, it cannot completely replace the use of hydro-electricity.
Despite the possibility of solar energy substituting the use of hydro-electricity for some of the consumer’s needs, mini-hydros have relatively large capacities.
An energy that stakeholders believe would be viable in Zambia is thermal energy, whereby the generating station converts heat energy of coal combustion in to electrical energy. Maamba, in Southern Province is one area that has been identified as rich in coal.
Mr Haanyika says the Government is looking for investors in coal. Despite the significant potential of thermal power, the biggest threat is the environmental impact. Coal energy is a non-renewable energy source and gas emissions are responsible for respiratory conditions.
Experts say the initial investment cost of a large hydro-power plant is higher than that of coal; however, the operating cost of coal is higher. Furthermore, water is cheaper compared to coal.
Coming back to the viability of solar power, many believe solar energy to be one of the best alternative energy sources. Using solar energy to generate electricity is one of the greatest achievements by mankind, and is set for even greater things in the future.
“Although the solar systems are a one-off investment, the cost of solar equipment can be hindrance to its development. This is precisely why the Government (through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning) in March 2008 suspended duty and value added tax on solar photovoltaic panels, batteries and other related accessories to encourage the expansion of solar energy technology in Zambia,” says Mr Justin Mukosa of the Rural Electrification Authority (REA).
Despite optimistic Government inputs and the huge installation cost of solar systems, there is a need for determination and awareness as this form of energy is renewable and clean to the environment.
Solar power can be a practical solution to cut electricity bills in urban areas as a water geyser contributes to a large amount of your electricity bill; a solar geyser can reduce your bill to a great extent.
“The initial investment of solar panels is quickly seen as a small price to pay in relation to savings made in subsequent months and years in electricity bills. Newer technologies have enabled us to store the solar electricity we harness through the use of solar power battery chargers. This is a huge advantage of why people should integrate solar power to influence their home power supply,” says Kwali Mfuni of the Energy Regulation Board.
Solar technology needs to be promoted with more support on behalf of Government, consumers and investors. Besides preventing climate damage, putting up a solar plant creates jobs as well. However, the cost and efficiency of solar power could jeopardise its potential.
