11/09/2023
*ENTREPRENEURIAL IDEAS*
*--/09/23:ENTREPRENEURIAL IDEAS Zimbabwe Daily Business Updates*
*Recap 2023*
*FROM IR GROUP*
POSTER BY *CORNELIUS E*
*WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STARTING A SOLAR BUSINESS IN ZIMBABWE : Part 1*
*INTRODUCTION*
Solar energy usage in Zimbabwe is on the rise. ZETDC still struggles to consummately satisfy the nation’s power demand. As such, several places across Zimbabwe regularly experience load shedding. That is why people are resorting to solar energy as a panacea. Solar energy is clean, renewable which brings about a range of upsides. Generating solar energy is not a hassle in Zimbabwe as most days are clear and sunny. All this presents vast business and startup opportunities in the solar energy space. With that said, I thought it necessary to tell you some of the important things to know about starting a solar business in Zimbabwe.
*LICENSING AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS*
There are several requirements in these regards that you must adhere to. Failure to do so, ignorantly or intentionally, can be consequential. There are two classes of licenses that can be applied for. Bear in mind that it is the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) that oversees the regulation and licensing.
Solar PV Technician Licenses are subdivided into 4 classes:
*CLASS ST1*
They can design, install, commission, maintain, and repair solar PV systems with a single inverter, single charge controller, single or multiple solar PV modules not more than 400 watts.
*CLASS ST2*
The technician can design, install, commission, maintain, and repair: Solar PV systems with PV array of not more than 2 kW, a single inverter/charger connected to the grid or a backup generator, a charge controller of up to 70 amperes and multiple batteries. They can also design, install, commission, maintain, and repair solar water pumping systems of a capacity not more than 2 kW.
*CLASS ST3*
Here they can design, install, commission, maintain, and repair: Grid-tied solar PV system