Evaluation of PV and CSP Systems to Supply Power in the Zimbabwe Mining Sector

Abstract

The drought that occurred in Zimbabwe in 2020 affected the country’s main hydro-power station causing the electricity supply to be less secure and reliable. This challenge resulted in load-shedding, which is not desirable to mining companies that require constant and reliable power for their operations. In that regard, a techno-economic analysis was carried out to assess the potential of integrating concentrated solar power (+thermal storage) and photovoltaics (+battery storage) to supply power at a typical mine in Zimbabwe. Two scenarios were simulated—a base case with no exports to the grid and another case where exports were allowed. The models were evaluated based on the generated renewable energy offsetting the demand from the mine, the energy exported, the grid contribution, the localised cost of energy and the net present value. The results show that the addition of a battery storage system to PV improves the percentage of the load offset by the renewable system and the generated energy by the renewable system by almost double. However, the installation cost, required land, LCOE, and simple pay-back also increased by approximately a factor of 2. The addition of a thermal storage system to CSP increased the generated energy, the capacity factor, and the renewable energy contribution by approximately a factor of 2. However, the land required for development and the installation costs also nearly doubled.

Hydro–Connected Floating PV Renewable Energy System and Onshore Wind Potential in Zambia

“…The analysis revealed that the cost of producing 214.4 GWh/year of energy at an investment cost of GBP 0.68/Wp was GBP 0.04/kWh, excluding operation and maintenance (O&M) costs. This FPV LCOE is competitive, with a value of GBP 0.0342/kWh and GBP 0.0335/kWh, obtained by Maronga et al [54] and RES4Africa [130], respectively, for ground-mounted PV. Homerpro gave a more conservative annual yield of 175 GWh at an LCOE of GBP 0.067/kWh (including O&M); however, this was without factoring in the water albedo and heat loss factor of the PV module's floating island.…”

“…Typical hybrid energy systems include hydro-PV [47,48], hydro-wind-thermal [49], hydro-wind [50,51] and hydro-wind-PV systems [52,53]. A recent study by Maronga et al [54] evaluated the optimal mix of PV, concentrated solar power (CSP) and storage, for a mining context in Zimbabwe. Previous research [55] found a mix of hydro and photovoltaics to be broadly used in many countries, owing to the vast spread of solar PV as a principal renewable energy source globally, and the swift regulation response of hydropower.…”

A feasibility assessment of utilizing concentrated solar power (CSP) in the Zimbabwean regions of Hwange and Lupane

“…Maronga et al [ 12 ] evaluated PV and CSP systems to supply power for the mining sector in Zimbabwe and concluded that PV systems with battery storage offered preferred performance, while CSP with TES showed great potential for more extensive facilities.…”

“…Rashayi & Chikuni [ 11 ], in a study to analyze the potential of grid-connected PV in Zimbabwe, also considered irradiance as the only determining factor, among other technical factors, to validate the adoption via a LCOE value. In Zimbabwe’s mining industry, Maronga et al’s [ 12 ] evaluation of PV and CSP systems for power supply concluded that PV systems with battery storage offered the best performance, while CSP with TES offered tremendous potential for massive operations. A techno-economic analysis of a 32 MW CSP facility revealed the possibility for extensive CSP operations from Maronga et al [ 12 ].…”

“…In Zimbabwe’s mining industry, Maronga et al’s [ 12 ] evaluation of PV and CSP systems for power supply concluded that PV systems with battery storage offered the best performance, while CSP with TES offered tremendous potential for massive operations. A techno-economic analysis of a 32 MW CSP facility revealed the possibility for extensive CSP operations from Maronga et al [ 12 ]. In 2014, Ziuku et al [ 13 ] applied the GIS-MCDM methods to determine the potential of CSP in Zimbabwe and estimated power potential in most areas of the country.…”