HARARE – Energy minister Fortune Chasi and the Ambassador of Switzerland Niculin Jäger have inaugurated the Swiss embassy’s solar project in Harare.
The project is one of the Swiss government’s largest solar facilities in the region at its embassy and residences that is meant to generate clean, low-carbon and sustainable energy.
The president of Switzerland Simonetta Sommaruga recently announced that Switzerland strives to be a zero carbon emission country by 2050.
“Solar power is a practical solution for Zimbabwe, not only because the country has high levels of sunshine, but also because it is clean and sustainable and could save the country money that is used to import electricity,” Chasi said at a ceremony to launch the project on July 6.
“Climate change means that we have to look at alternatives and I am happy with this investment from Switzerland which is in line with Zimbabwe’s energy policy that promotes a transition to clean energy.”
Switzerland’s ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, Niculin Jäger said: “We are proud to have one of the largest solar installations by a Swiss embassy in the region. Solar power is a key part of our ‘sustainable embassies’ programme and further proof of Switzerland’s global commitment to environmental protection. I hope this project will inspire many others.
“Zimbabwe is a good place to invest in solar energy. The climate and regulatory framework is conducive and the government of Zimbabwe rightly recognises that the future of energy is renewable.”
The power produced from the solar panels will be used to run all the power needs at the embassy and residences, with solar power providing 100 percent of the electric power required in full-capacity operation.
A first phase of the installation of high efficiency solar panels at the embassy was first made in 2010 and was already then part of Switzerland’s commitment to clean energy. Switzerland, a pioneer of sustainable technologies is home to the first solar-powered plane, Solar Impulse, which flew around the globe.
