Zambia Riverside Solar Power Station

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Zambia Riverside Solar Power Station
Zambia Riverside Solar Power Station
Country Zambia
Location Kitwe, Kitwe District, Copperbelt Province
Coordinates 12°48′26″S28°14′11″E / 12.80722°S 28.23639°E / -12.80722; 28.23639 Coordinates: 12°48′26″S28°14′11″E / 12.80722°S 28.23639°E / -12.80722; 28.23639
StatusOperational
Construction beganDecember 2021
Commission date February 2023
Construction costUS$19.2 million
Owner(s) Copperbelt Energy Corporation
Operator(s)Copperbelt Energy Corporation
Solar farm
Type Flat-panel PV
Power generation
Nameplate capacity 34 MW (46,000 hp)
Annual net output 54.9 GWh
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The Zambia Riverside Solar Power Station is a 34 megawatts solar power plant in Zambia. The privately owned solar farm was originally commissioned in April 2018, as a 1 MW power station by Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC), who own the energy infrastructure. In December 2021, CEC signed a engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract with Sinohydro to expand the solar farm by 33 extra MW over the next 12 months. CEC transmits and distributes the power to its customers in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. [1] [2]

Contents

Location

The 1 MW power station was located on a piece of property measuring 1.1 hectares (2.7 acres), adjacent to the main campus of Copperbelt University, in the Riverside neighborhood in the city of Kitwe. [2] The 33 MW expansion sits on 30 hectares (74 acres) of land in Kitwe District. [1]

Kitwe is approximately 358 kilometres (222 mi) north of Lusaka, the national capital. [3] The geographical coordinates of Zambia Riverside Solar Power Station are: 12°48'26.0"S, 28°14'11.0"E (Latitude:-12.807222; Longitude:28.236389). [4]

Overview

In April 2018, CEC commenced commercial use of its 1 MW solar power station in Kitwe, as an income-diversification enterprise. In December 2021, CEC contracted Sinohydro to expand the solar farm to 34 MW, with anticipated annual output of 56.5 GWh. The power station, whose original design consisted of 3,864 photovoltaic panels, each rated at 270 watts, was the first grid-connected solar plant in Zambia. The expansion includes construction of new 11kV evacuation transmission lines to a location where the energy enters the CEC grid. [2] [5]

Construction costs and timeline

The construction costs for the expansion are reported as US$19.2 million, paid by CEC. Construction is expected to last approximately one year and conclude during the fourth quarter of 2022. [5]

Recent developments

In February 2023, the completed 34 MW solar farm was officially commissioned in the presence of Hakainde Hichilema, the Zambian Head of State. The new installation sits of 30 hectares (74 acres). Its annual output is calculated at 54.7 GWh, enough to energize 10,000 Zambian homes. [6]

During expansion, 800 people were employed over a 10 months period at a total cost of US$22 million. During the expansion, 61,300 panels, connected to 150 solar inverters were installed. Work also included the construction of 4 kilometres (2 mi) of new transmission line and six transformer stations. [6]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Jean Marie Takouleu (23 February 2023). "Zambia: A 33 MWp solar photovoltaic power plant goes into operation in Kitwe". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Zambia Invest (13 December 2021). "Zambia Riverside Solar Power Plant to Be Expanded to 34MW". ZambiaInvest.com. Lusaka, Zambia. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  3. ↑ Google (27 March 2022). "Road Distance Between Lusaka, Zambia And Kitwe, Zambia" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  4. ↑ Google (27 March 2022). "Location of Zambia Riverside Solar Power Station" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  5. 1 2 Luska Times (20 November 2020). "CEC to increase power capacity for its Riverside solar plant". LuskaTimes.com. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  6. 1 2 Jean Marie Takouleu (23 February 2023). "Zambia: A 33 MW solar photovoltaic power plant goes into operation in Kitwe". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
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