Solar Photovoltaic Technology Status, Prospective and Challenges in Zambia: A review

Achieving sustainable development and use of solar energy have been regarded by the government of Zambia and the sub –Saharan African region as the best alternative to the current energy deficit as well as environmental concerns in the region. This review is a desk study of the on-going research on the sustainable energy and environmental policy analysis for Zambia. The country has had challenges with achieving the set targets of 10,000 new household connections by 2013 and ended up reducing the target to 2500 households of which 500 household of the target connected by 2015, which resulted in a CO2 reduction of 12,005 t CO2. In this paper, a review of the status and prospective of solar PV technologies in Zambia is carried. Furthermore, it highlights the programs of the solar PV technology in Zambia such as introduction of the solar PV mini-grid with the lowest tariff of US$0.0602/kWh. Finally, it discusses the Zambian government policies and initiatives to promote solar PV technology in the country and reduction of the green house gas emissions. The review on solar photovoltaic energy will help the decision makers and various stakeholders to understand the current PV status, barriers and challenges in Zambia.