RYAN CHIGOCHE
Zimbabwe has adopted the global quality standards for Pico photovoltaic solar lighting as mandatory for all products as it moves to adopt renewable energy, Business Times can report.
The Standard Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) said the new standards were in line with the country’s economic blueprint, the National Development Strategy 1, which promotes the use of efficient lighting.
“It’s a huge milestone in SAZ’s 60 years of existence. It marks a huge step in Zimbabwe with the aim to provide standard lighting for all by 2030,” SAZ director general Eve Gadzikwa said.
Experts said pico solar systems are much smaller and cheaper than traditional solar systems.
It has the potential to provide useful amounts of electrical power to charge the increasing number of low power gadgets such as calculators, toys, cameras, mp3 players, cell phones, tablets, and other portable electronic devices.
They said the standards would provide a market-based approach for private sector delivery of renewable energy electrification technologies, with a specific focus on high quality stand-alone solar systems.
Renewable Energy Association of Zimbabwe chairman, Isaiah Nyakusendwa, said the standards would provide a level playing field in the market and innovation of new quality products.
He said the standards will help buyers to acquire quality affordable supplies through the private sector.
“The standards will also go a long way in protecting the consumers and the environment as dumping of solar products after life will be minimised since many are not aware of the danger posed by lithium batteries,” Nyakusendwa said.
Currently in Zimbabwe the share of renewable energy in the energy mix is still very low according to the Renewable Energy Policy of 2019.
It is anticipated that by 2030, at least 2100MW would have been realised from all sources of renewable energy in the country.
The policy also highlights the importance of quality solar standards.
