China Energy Engineering Corp. (China Energy) , has suggested constructing a 1,000 megawatt(MW) floating solar power station on Zimbabwe’s Kariba dam at an estimated cost of around USD1bn, as reported by Reuters on March 27. Zimbabwe presently generates less than 50% of its 1,700MW power demand due to issues like the underperformance of its coal-fired plants and low water levels, leading to a decline in generation from the 1,050MW hydropower plant at Kariba. Developers are increasingly exploring floating solar power stations to avoid competing land-use interests and save space. China Energy’s proposal entails installing 1.8 million solar panels at the Kariba dam, costing USD987m, and includes the design, procurement, construction, and commissioning of a 1000MW AC floating solar farm and 330kV/33kV booster station. Additionally, it includes constructing a transmission line from the booster station to a sub-station in Kariba. 

China Energy has recently executed two floating solar projects in Shandong Province, China, and Thailand. Zimbabwe started generating power from its first China-funded 300MW coal-fired plant in Hwange last week but intends to shift to renewable energy sources for its long-term electricity supply. In December 2022, the government announced incentives to encourage the launch of 1,100MW solar projects by 2025.

Sources: 

https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/china-energy-plans-1000-mw-floating-solar-plant-zimbabwe-2023-03-27/

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-13/china-s-shandong-to-build-massive-solar-farms-out-to-sea