BUAN launches modern Agrivoltaic solar plant
Larona Makhaiza | Monday March 20, 2023 06:00
The recently launched Agrivoltaic solar power is the first of its kind in Botswana.
The solar power plant is earmarked to be the biggest ever-solar power plant in Africa compared to other solar power plants that do the same job the facility does.
Giving an overview of the facility, BUAN Vice Chancellor, Professor Ketlhatlogile Mosepele revealed that the Agrivoltaic project does not only generate power as the solar power plant will also aid in food production. Mosepele disclosed that the project commenced way back in 2019 when MarketVest approached the university to embark on the milestone of establishing an Agrivoltaic power plant in the country and they only managed to complete it this year.
“This project marks a key milestone in our key strategic plans in contributing to sustainable resources use and infuse innovation in food production and power generation. And this Agrivoltaic project will help in generating power and food production,” Mosepele said.
In addition, Mosepele revealed that the project is one of its kind as it focuses on combining food production, for both crops and livestock under the shade of solar panels and photovoltaic energy.
The Agrivoltaic is of great importance in the process of food production as the shade that it provides helps in preserving the soil moisture and reduce transpiration; and for those abilities the project is said to be imperative for a country like Botswana, which is known for its scorching heat that makes it hard for farmers to really grow crops in the country.
The Vice Chancellor further indicated that during the conceptualisation they partnered with organisations like the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), which stands to benefit greatly from the Agrivoltaic. “We partnered with the likes of BPC in this project and now that the project is done, BPC and Batswana at large will also benefit from this development as the university will also share the electricity to the national grid for use,” Mosepele added.
For his part the Vice President, Slumber Tsogwane who is also the Vice Chancellor said the launch of Agrivoltaic brings him nothing but great joy as it is exactly traversing with the Reset Agenda that has been set by the President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
“As government, we made a commitment to embark on a process of moving away from our carbon intense modes of energy generation as thus, Integrated Electricity Resource stipulates that at least 15% of electricity should come from renewables by 2036 and for this I am proud we are walking in the right direction and also with the Reset Agenda,” Tsogwane said.