I recently attended the ground breaking ceremony for Zimbabwe’s first solar mini-grid in Matabeleland South. More than six million people in Zimbabwe have no access to electricity. 87% of rural households are not on the national grid. Thus this ceremony was a momentous occasion for the funders (EU, OFID and GEF), the implementing partners (SNV, Practical Action and Dabane Trust), government ministries and the community. African governments need to promote investment in the renewable energy sector. This may include:
· Setting renewable energy targets
· Opening up the energy market
· Incentivising investments and uptake of renewable energy e.g. favourable feed-in tariffs
· Set standards for renewable energy technologies
· Setting renewable energy targets
· Opening up the energy market
· Incentivising investments and uptake of renewable energy e.g. favourable feed-in tariffs
· Set standards for renewable energy technologies