State-owned Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) is exploring floating solar projects at its major dams as part of a broader innovation strategy to address high operational costs and low revenues. Recently, WUC issued a tender for a feasibility study to evaluate the installation of floating solar plants at several dams, including the Gaborone, Bokaa, Lotsane, Letsibogo, and Dikgatlhong dams, with the Dikgatlhong and Gaborone dams being the largest in Botswana.
This initiative follows WUC’s announcement in July of a smart prepaid metering solution project, aimed at improving efficiency and customer experience. The smart metres, which can handle both pre-payment and post-payment options, are expected to cost approximately P1.5 billion and will be rolled out over six months in Gaborone and surrounding areas. Three suppliers have been chosen to execute the project.
The move towards floating solar projects aligns with the government’s push for clean energy, as outlined in the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) introduced in 2020. Botswana, with its annual 3,000 hours of sunshine, is well-positioned to capitalize on solar energy. The national energy policy and Vision 2036 aim to diversify the energy mix, targeting a 30 percent contribution from renewable sources by 2030, increasing to 50 percent thereafter.
In support of this goal, Botswana Power Corporation (BCP) has been signing long-term power purchase agreements with independent power producers, including projects for 200 MW of large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, 35 MW of smaller grid-tied solar PV, 300 MW of coal-fired power, 100 MW of coal bed methane (CBM) gas power, 200 MW of concentrated solar power (CSP), and 50 MW from wind power.
