The Harava Solar Power Station, is a 20 megawatts (27,000 hp) solar power plant under construction in Zimbabwe. The project is owned and under development by Harava Solar Limited and entity owned by the Seke Community, in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe. The energy generated here will be purchased by Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA).[1][2]
| Harava Solar Power Station | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | Zimbabwe |
| Location | Bwoni, Seke Rural, Seke District |
| Coordinates | 18°07′01″S 31°15′22″E / 18.11694°S 31.25611°E |
| Status | Under construction |
| Construction began | 2019 |
| Commission date | 2022 Expected |
| Construction cost | US$25 million |
| Owner(s) | Harava Solar Limited |
| Solar farm | |
| Type | Flat-panel PV |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 66000 |
| Nameplate capacity | 20 megawatts (27,000 hp) |
Location edit
The power station sits on 28 hectares (69 acres), near the community of Bwoni, in Seke Rural Constituency, in Seke District, Mashonaland East Province, approximately 47 kilometres (29 mi), by road, southeast of Zimbabwe's capital city, Harare.[3][4] This solar farm lies approximately 11 kilometres (7 mi), southeast of the diesel-fired Dema Thermal Power Station.[5]
Overview edit
The power station has a capacity of 20 megawatts, to be sold directly to ZESA for integration into the national electricity grid. The electricity is evacuated via a new 10 kilometres (6 mi), 132kV high voltage transmission line that transmits the power to the new 330kV substation at Dema Power Station, where it enters the national grid.[6]
Developers edit
The power station was developed by a special purpose vehicle company, Harava Solar Limited, specifically set up to develop, build and operate this solar power station. Harava Solar is a joint venture between the Seke Community and the Zimbabwean Ministry of Energy and Power Development.[6]
Construction timeline, costs and funding edit
The cost of construction was budgeted at US$25 million, fully funded by the Zimbabwean government.[6] The power station was expected to begin commercial operations in November 2021.[2]
Controversy edit
In the second half of 2019, Soventix SA of Germany, the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor stopped paying eXess Africa of South Africa, a sub-contactor on the project. When negotiations failed the matter was taken to court, with eXess Africa demanding over US$1 million in unpaid claims for installed capacity of 6MW and a substation. Harava Solar is counterclaiming material (steel pipes) removed from the site by the subcontractor's officials, when payment was not forthcoming. Work on the power station stalled in 2021.[7]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Zimbabwe Herald (21 May 2021). "Harava Solar Project Hailed". Zimbabwe Herald. Harare. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ a b RenewAfrica.biz (25 May 2021). "Zimbabwe to switch on 20 MW Harava Solar Project in November". RenewAfrica.biz. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ Talent Chimutambgi (23 June 2020). "Harava Solar Project Shines Light On Zimbabwe". Zimbabwe Herald. Harare. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ Google (7 March 2022). "Road Distance Between Harare, Zimbabwe And Bwoni, Zimbabwe With Map" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ Google (7 March 2022). "Road Distance Between Dema Power Station, Zimbabwe And Bwoni, Zimbabwe With Map" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ a b c Pindula Zimbabwe (19 June 2020). "20MW Harava Solar Project 70 Per Cent Complete". Pindula Zimbabwe. Harare. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ Times Live (12 August 2021). "SA businessman arrested in Zimbabwe over presidential solar plant project dispute". TimesLIVE. Johannesburg, South Africa. Retrieved 5 October 2022.