Cresta Lodge Harare goes solar with Grid Africa-designed 600 kWp solar plant

Zim Now Business Desk

Cresta Lodge Harare has partnered with Grid Africa to install a 600 kWp solar plant paired with 450 kWh lithium battery storage, a system expected to generate approximately 950 MWh annually—enough to power around 500 homes in Zimbabwe.

The project, announced by Grid Africa co-founder & CEO Norman Moyo, is being hailed as a landmark moment for Zimbabwe’s hospitality sector, positioning Cresta Lodge among the first major hotels in Harare to operate predominantly on solar power.

“A landmark moment for Harare hospitality: one of the city’s first solar-powered hotels,” said Moyo.

The Grid Africa-designed system will ensure a reliable, clean power supply across the property’s operations.

Located along Samora Machel Avenue East, Cresta Lodge Harare is part of the Cresta Hotels Group, which has an extensive footprint across Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Zambia.

Zimbabwe is faced with chronic power shortages, and frequent load-shedding has forced hotels to invest heavily in generators, pushing up operating costs.

Cresta Lodge’s solar transition will boost energy resilience and guest satisfaction, cut long-term operational costs amid rising electricity tariffs, and strengthen sustainability credentials, appealing to eco-conscious travellers and international partners.