Botswana power storage power generation solution

Can Botswana improve domestic energy security & access to modern energy services?

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 26 August 2021 – Significant wind and solar potential and abundant biomass residues present considerable opportunities for Botswana to enhance domestic energy security and increase access to modern energy services, according to a new report published today by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

What is integrated energy planning in Botswana?

Integrated Energy Planning and developing an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) are an integral part of the energy planning process in Botswana as guided by its 11th National Development Plans (NDP 11) and other sector policies and ambitions. In the energy sector, the NDP 11 focuses on increasing self-reliance on the country’s energy resources.

How is electricity generated in Botswana?

Currently, in Botswana electricity is primarily generated from domestic coal resources. Apart from coal-bed methane, there are no proven reserves of other possible fossil fuel resources for energy generation like natural gas or oil. Botswana has large coal reserves, estimated to be in excess of 200 billion tons.

What are the constraints on energy mix and environment in Botswana?

There are no constraints on neither energy mix nor environment, except meeting demand through local resources. Self Sufficiency The Self-sufficiency (SS) scenario assumes that Botswana will become self-sufficient in electricity production, covering domestic needs and exporting electricity by the year 2035.

Why did Botswana build a 600 MW coal power plant?

By then Botswana had planned to build a 600 MW Morupule B coal Power plant to support the existing aged 132MW Morupule A Coal Power plant. The two plants were adequate to meet the national demand. As the SADC region was experiencing power shortage, private sector showed interest in investing on power generation.

Does Botswana have solar power?

Coal exists in 12 coalfields, but currently only Morupule Coal Mine (MCM) and Medie Coal Mine are in operation. Botswana also has a significant solar potential, receiving over 3,200 hours of sunshine per year with an average insolation on a flat surface of 21 MJ/m. This rate of irradiation is among the highest in the world.