CEC Commissions 34 MW Solar Power Plant in Zambia
Zambia’s Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) has commissioned a 34 MW solar power plant in Kitwe, the country’s first large-scale solar photovoltaic facility.
The 34 MW photovoltaic (PV) power plant is CEC’s first step into renewable energy, but with an aim to achieve 300 MW of renewable energy resources over the next four years, it is certainly not the last.
The solar plant covers a total area of approximately 30 hectares and includes 61,300 solar PV modules, 150 inverters, six transformer stations and 4 km of transmission line.
The project, which took ten months to build and cost $22m, was constructed by local and international contractors, employing a total of 800 people at its peak.
And CEC Board chairman Mr LONDON MWAFULILWA, said, “The annual yield of the plant will average 54.9 GWh and will contribute to carbon savings of 51 kilotons, enough to supply approximately 10,000 homes with a consumption rate averaging 15 units per day.”
Mr Mwafulilwa added that CEC aims to make tangible and real contributions to the development of a green economy in Zambia and is committed to developing 138 MW of wind energy with its partner UPEPO Zambia, as well as an additional 64 MW planned for Itimpi in Garneton.
The company also plans to develop 138 MW of wind energy in Masaiti in the Copperbelt, bringing online at least 200 MW of new power generation from renewable energy sources by the end of 2024.
The company is also planting one million trees to replenish forest areas that have been depleted and increase carbon sinks for the absorption of carbon dioxide.
CEC is working on deploying cleaner fuels to replace fossil diesel used in thermal power generating units.
