The Pan Afrikanist Watchman

German companies working in the solar sector undertook a project reference trip to Botswana on the 16th – 17th February 2023 as part of the Energy Solutions Initiative of the German Government.

The purpose of the trip organised under the umbrella of the Project Development Programme (PDP) was to visit successfully installed high-quality solar systems
and to meet with local project developers and experts from the public and private sector.

The PDP (implemented by GIZ) wants to facilitate and develop renewable energy projects by identifying local companies, assessing their energy demand and proposing a business case to potential German suppliers.

Over the course of the two days, participants representing companies from Botswana, South Africa and Germany engaged in vivid discussions on topics ranging from regulatory issues, investment matters, joint venture opportunities to the roles the public and private sectors have to play in facilitating the energy transition.

While everyone agreed that solar solutions have become a viable business case in small and large-scale power generation and are no longer “the expensive and complicated alternative”, obstacles still remain regarding independent power production and the sale of renewable energy.

German Ambassador to Botswana/SADC, Margit Hellwig-Boette, stressed the fact that although the country has seen progress in the past two years, things have to move faster with regard to improving regulatory framework conditions and
establishing a stronger lobby for solar energy by the private sector.

She emphasised that learning from each other as well as cooperation between local companies and international partners such as the German companies present are key to move into the right direction and without further delay.

During the field trip, participants were able to inspect commissioned solar pv systems either directly installed by German companies or with German components at Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) and next to Fields Mall in the SkyView Office Building in New CBD.

Dr Tobias Junne, Deputy Head of Division in charge of the German Energy Solutions Initiative at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), highlighted that these two visited projects serve as positive examples of cooperation between local project developers and German technology and expressed his hope that the PDP will be able to facilitate such projects in the future to create win-win situations.