Willsgrove Solar Project Advances Towards 50MW Capacity

Development of the 50MW Willsgrove Solar Project in Zimbabwe’s Umguza District, Matabeleland North Province, is progressing steadily, with developer Soleos Energy reaffirming its commitment to expanding the country’s renewable energy capacity.

The project is being implemented through a special-purpose vehicle established by local developer Softest Touch Technologies in partnership with India-based Soleos Energy.

The initiative has received Government approval for most of its principal development milestones, positioning it among Zimbabwe’s growing pipeline of independent power producer projects.

Zimbabwe’s national policy framework encourages private sector participation in electricity generation to address supply deficits and diversify the energy mix.

Soleos Energy director Dhaval Jiyani said the company chose Zimbabwe after evaluating its solar resources, electricity demand, regulatory environment and opportunities for local participation and economic development.

“Zimbabwe has a strong solar resource, and its electricity supply has relied significantly on hydropower, which is affected by rainfall variability. Clean energy is where economics, security and sustainability meet,” said Jiyani.

He added that solar power was among the lowest-cost sources of new electricity globally, could be deployed faster than conventional power plants and reduced exposure to fuel price volatility and import dependence.

“Soleos Energy was built on the conviction that energy access drives economic growth: it powers factories, mines, farms, hospitals and schools. Clean energy lets us deliver that growth responsibly, cutting emissions while creating skilled jobs and local supply chains.”

Soleos also welcomed Zimbabwe’s investment climate, citing the Government’s stated openness to business and support for private sector participation in power generation.

“The Government has published Vision 2030, which sets a goal of upper middle-income status by 2030, and has announced measures to encourage private participation in electricity generation, including by independent power producers,” he said.

Under Vision 2030, Zimbabwe prioritises expanded electricity generation and increased private investment through public-private partnerships, joint ventures and IPPs.

The country’s National Energy Policy similarly identifies IPP participation as central to improving efficiency, attracting investment and increasing local generation capacity.

Project director Francis Gogwe said the development had achieved several important early-stage milestones, including completion of the solar farm’s boundary fence and construction of a 4km access road to the site.

The project team has also secured key documentation, including a lease agreement with Bulawayo City Council, under whose jurisdiction the site falls, and a Grid Impact Assessment.

“Further to those developments, a feasibility study was completed, we were given our project licence and the investors’ engineer is on site,” Gogwe said.

The project is now advancing through critical commercial and regulatory processes, including negotiations for a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), a Transmission Connection Agreement (TCA) and a Government Project Support Agreement (GPSA).

Other outstanding requirements include securing support from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, establishing an escrow arrangement with the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), and reaching financial close.

Gogwe said the Willsgrove project would support Zimbabwe’s broader development objectives by increasing generation capacity and advancing the country’s transition to cleaner energy.

“As we know, economic development is driven by electrification, which underpins transformative growth.

“It is encouraging that the Government has remained fully supportive of independent power producers such as ourselves as the country continues making significant strides in its transition towards clean energy,” he said.

Zimbabwe’s energy strategy seeks to increase renewables, excluding large hydropower, to 29% of the generation mix by 2030, while mobilising substantial private investment in generation, transmission, distribution and off-grid electrification.