(Victoria Falls / Zimbabwe) – The French power plant developer Hydrogène de France (HDF Energy) and the state-owned grid operator and utility Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) are planning to build the first green hydrogen power plant in Zimbabwe. The project, called “Middle Sabi Renewstable,” will be built in Chipinge district in Manicaland province, one of the poorest areas in the country.
On the one hand, the aim is to bring environmentally friendly electricity generation closer to the load centers and consumers in the southeast of Zimbabwe in order to reduce transmission losses from the electricity generation centers in the northwest. On the other hand, the supply and access to electricity for the local population will be improved, according to HDF, which has so far been prevented from economic development due to the weak supply and strong network fluctuations. In addition, the country's large energy deficit will be reduced.
The solar power plant produces electricity during the day (1), which is stored in batteries (2). The electrolyser (3) produces hydrogen from the solar power with intermediate storage in horizontal metal tanks (4). Fuel cells (5) generate electricity for the grid at night from the stored hydrogen. © HDF Energy (2x)
The planned facility 
produce green electricity around the clock and is capable of black start, meaning it can be started up from the switched off state independently of the power grid. It is designed to supply base load electricity, but can be switched on or off as needed to maintain or improve grid stability. The annual yield is forecast at 178 gigawatt hours. The financial completion of the project and the start of construction will take place in 2024/2025, says Nicolas Lecomte, HDF director for southern and eastern Africa.
“Middle Sabi Renewstable” is being developed as part of the cross-project, cross-technology and multi-investor Chipangayi Renewable Energy Technology Park (RETPark). This is particularly designed for the settlement of companies and independent power producers (IPP) from the solar energy, biomass, wind power and green hydrogen segments.
By 2030, the electrification rate should be 72 percent
The government wants to encourage the development of solar projects with an output of over 2030 megawatts by independent power producers by 1.000. In addition, an electrification rate of 2030 percent of the entire population should be achieved by 72, and an increase in the rural electrification rate should rise to 60 in the same period, according to a fact sheet from the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Southern Africa.
Accordingly, the installed generation capacity in the country amounts to a total of 2.394 megawatts (MW). Coal-fired power plants with around 1.200 MW make up a good half of this. The share of renewable energies is 48 percent, with a focus on hydropower with an installed capacity of 1.081 MW. In addition, there is currently only 12,6 MW of photovoltaics and 101 MW of biomass (as of June 2022).
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Rendering of the planned site for the hydrogen power plant in Zimbabwe, which will be powered by solar power. © HDF Energy
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The solar power plant produces electricity during the day (1), which is stored in batteries (2). The electrolyser (3) produces hydrogen from the solar power with intermediate storage in horizontal metal tanks (4). Fuel cells (5) generate electricity for the grid at night from the stored hydrogen. © HDF Energy
