Botswana solar thermal energy storage base

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.

How much PV capacity will Botswana build by 2040?

In total, the government has approved the construction of 1.5 GW of new capacity by 2040, starting with 135 MW of PV capacity by 2022. Under the plan, Botswana will build up to 800 MW of new PV capacity, 200 MW of CSP, 50 MW of wind, 140 GW of battery storage, as well as 300 MW of coal-fired and 250 MW of coal bed methane (CBM) capacity.

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.

What is Botswana's solar potential?

Botswana hosts vast swathes of low-cost land that records direct normal irradiance (DNI) of over 2,200 kWh per year, similar to solar levels seen in Morocco, an early mover in CSP deployment. It is a land-locked sub-Saharan country bordering South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

When will Botswana build 200 MW of CSP capacity?

Under a new integrated resource plan published by the government in December 2020, Botswana plans to build 200 MW of CSP capacity by 2026. The procurement process will start this year, it said.

Can China build a 100-megawatt solar plant in Botswana?

Photographer: Guillem Sartorio/Bloomberg (Guillem Sartorio/Bloomberg) (Bloomberg) -- A group of Chinese companies led by China Harbour Engineering Co. has won a contract to build a 100-megawatt solar plant in Botswana, the country’s second utility-scale renewables facility.