Botswana commissions Bobonong and Shakawe power stations

Botswana has commissioned the Bobonong and Shakawe solar photovoltaic power stations. The two projects were developed through a public-private partnership (PPP) between the Botswana government and Sturdee Energy, a company based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Bobonong solar photovoltaic power station has a capacity of 3 MWp and is situated in the sub-district of Bobonong in the eastern part of Botswana.  On the other hand Shakawe solar photovoltaic power station has a capacity of 1 MWp and is located in the North-West district, specifically in the town of Shakawe.

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PPA 

Together, these two solar power plants are expected to generate a total of 10,000 MWh of electricity in their first year of operation. The electricity generated is sold to the state-owned Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) under a 25-year PPA deal.

The projects were set up at a cost of US $5M, which was financed with the support of ResponsAbility, an investment company based in Zurich, Switzerland. Sturdee Energy, as an independent power producer (IPP), was responsible for enlisting the services of the German company Soventix to install the solar panels, inverters, and other equipment for the power plants.

These solar photovoltaic power stations are essential for diversifying Botswana’s electricity mix. Currently, the country relies heavily on fossil fuels, particularly coal (80%) and gas, for its electricity generation. The introduction of solar energy represents a step toward a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy mix. Solar energy is seen as a significant contributor to Botswana’s energy transition, aligning with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy sources.