Renewable energy independent power producer (IPP), Sturdee Energy, has started construction on the 3 MW Bobonong solar project in Botswana. Construction of the solar energy project is expected to be complete in July 2022. The ground breaking ceremony was officiated by Botswana’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Lefoko Maxwell Moagi last week.
Situated some 450 km northeast of the country’s capital city Gaborone, the solar plant once completed is set to be the first IPP developed renewable energy project in Botswana. The solar energy project is expected to create 60 jobs during the construction period, and 15 jobs during the operations phase.
Germany headquartered solar EPC company Soventix will be responsible for the construction of the project, with Proconics, a South African-based company, and Energy Systems, a Botswana-based outfit as subcontractors.
The Bobonong solar plant is expected to produce around 8,500,000 kWh of power per year, which translates into enough clean renewable power to supply approximately 4,500 Botswana households annually.
James White, Sturdee Energy’s Executive Director commented at the ground breaking ceremony saying; “the project will use state-of-the-art technology, where it will consist of 7,038 bifacial solar panels, which not only harvest the sun’s energy in the front of the panel but also use the back of the panel to capture the reflection of the sun off of the floor.”
The Bobonong project is part of two projects awarded to Sturdee Energy by Botswana’s government in 2019, with the other project being the 1 MW Shakawe solar energy project.
Sturdee Energy last year announced that it had entered into two power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) for the purchase of electricity from the two renewable energy projects once completed.
Project a step towards energy independence in Botswana
Botswana’s government hailed the project as a significant step towards its goals of producing environmentally friendly energy and achieving energy independence. The country currently relies on imports from neighbouring South Africa to meet its energy needs.
“It comes at a time when Botswana is moving toward decarbonizing production of electricity with the aim to save the environment for future generations,” said Botswana’s Energy Minister, Lefoko Maxwell Moagi Moagi.
BPC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), David Kgoboko emphasised that the development of the Bobonong solar project signals that the Southern African country is committed to the Paris Agreement and COP26 requirements. Adding that the state utility BPC in partnership with the government is making progress towards the introduction of more solar-based power stations in the country’s energy mix.
“Three weeks ago, BPC signed three solar power purchase agreements for Lobatse, Maun and Gantsi each with a capacity of 4MW. We are about to conclude negotiations for solar power purchase agreements for the Molepolole site (which is another 4MW power station) and a 50 MW solar power plant to be located in Selebi-Phikwe. All these are expected to be signed in April this year,” said David Kgoboko, BPC’s Chief Executive Officer.
