Enhancing renewable energy integration in Zimbabwe's power grid: Addressing storage challenges

Zimbabwe currently battles a mirage of challenges chief among them being energy poverty which has seen the nation experiencing outrageous 8 – 12 hour power cuts. However, advances with research and technology in other countries has led to increased energy sufficiency, and reliable energy ecosystems which effectively support sustainable energy development including load balancing, seamless integration of renewables, and diverse energy mix adoption. The growing interest in energy storage fuelled by the growth of renewable energy technology has provided research with innovative solutions including improved adaptation of pumped hydro-storage, battery energy storage, thermal energy storage, and storage of electrical energy by utilizing off-peak power to produce hydrogen from waste or coal. This study therefore proposes adoption of the technologies as part of the solution towards sustainable energy supply in Zimbabwe. This not only directly improves power supply but also reduces carbon emissions, encourages the adoption of electric vehicles, advances rural electrification, and strengthens the economy. The study is expected to contribute significantly to the nation's development strategy and support efforts toward affordable and clean energy as well as climate action.