ZIMBABWE’S solar power company, OurSun Energy (Pvt) Ltd, Switzerland-based clean energy provider, The meeco Group, and the country’s leading agricultural equipment manufacturer, William Bain Holdings, have forged an alliance to support clean energy and stimulate the local market with the new sun2flow solar-based water pumping systems.
SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER
OurSun Energy director Simbarashe Mhuriro yesterday said with approximately 300 days of sunshine each year, wind and several sources of hydropower, Zimbabwe had significant quantities of clean energy resources, but faced a huge power deficit affecting all aspects of the economy.
Mhuriro said the company and its partners were actively looking for sites in Bulawayo to introduce solar projects of between one megawats (MW) to 5MW.
“We are currently looking for sites in Bulawayo for solar farms and installations for between 1MW to 5MW, so we are in discussions with a number of individuals concerning the projects,” Mhuriro said.
Mhuriro said William Bain Holdings was incorporated in 1922 and has over the years established itself as the leading manufacturer of agricultural implements and distribution of agricultural and industrial equipment.
He said the organisation’s 88-year experience backed by constant research into more innovative equipment is a guarantee in providing farmers with higher operating efficiency.
“The co-operation is based on the innovative sun2flow solar water pumping system developed by The meeco Group. Sun2flow combines high-end solar modules with water pumping and irrigation solutions, which ideally suit remote off-grid areas. Part of meeco’s broad and high-technological product range from, sun2flow, fits perfectly farmers’ expectations and needs.
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“The constructions and installations can easily pump water from artificial water reservoirs into distant tanks. The experienced specialists from William Bain Holdings will locally assemble the sun2flow mobile units for the Zimbabwean as well as for the Sadc market, which comprises 15 countries.”
Mhuriro said William Bain would also provide support to OurSun projects by manufacturing roof and ground-mounted structures via their special casting division.
The power units and pumps would arrive preassembled by meeco India (Pvt) Ltd.
“Currently, the process developing the first locally assembled sun2flow mobile trailer has begun. As soon as this is complete the product will then be positioned on the market for gauging its potential,” Mhuriro said.
“Both companies have also started the process of developing locally assembled roof and ground mounting structures with George Kitoudis, The meeco Group technical and operations manager currently in Zimbabwe and working with our William Bain counterparts.”
He said solar power has enormous energy generation capacity that also can be tapped for sustainable economic growth in addition to bridging the current power deficit in the country.
“With this project and partnership The meeco Group as a multinational wants to support the growth of small to medium scale agriculture, provide energy to rural communities in addition to creating as much local content as possible to stimulate the local manufacturing industry as most of our components for our envisioned 230MW of generation capacity will be produced locally.
William Bain will also develop a local energy product known as sun2flow mobile.
“By partnering with local companies like William Bain passing on skills, OurSun Energy (Pvt) Ltd is looking to pass on skills, stimulate local manufacturing and to generate employment and support the government’s ZimAsset programme, which was developed in 2013 to set renewable and energy efficiency targets.
“ZimAsset aims at increasing the use of renewable energy resources by 300MW by 2018,” Mhuriro added.
