Zera partners researchers on energy solutions

THE Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) has partnered with the Research Council of Zimbabwe (RCZ) to drive research-based energy solutions by institutions of higher learning and industry players.

The energy regulator held a meeting in Bulawayo last Thursday with representatives from the National University of Science and Technology (Nust), Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) and Midlands State University (MSU) to deliberate on the proposed project.

In his remarks, Zera head of renewable energy Mr Tobias Mudzingwa said research insight was critical in tackling prevailing supply and efficiency challenges as well as unlock opportunities in the wider renewable energy sector.

Nust

“Funds are there to sponsor research projects on renewable energy proposals. Research must be practical, usable and speak to the problems as well as available opportunities,” he said.

Mr Mudzingwa said research findings must not be merely for academic endeavour but should be scaled up to end users such as policy makers, industry, entrepreneurs and investors among others.

He said Zera wanted to create a robust link between academia and industry, and where possible create institutionalised centres of excellence for specific technologies.

Mr Mudzingwa also said collaboration between universities when carrying out strategic energy research projects was critical.

RCZ representative, Mr Forbes Chinyemba, said they have also come up with priorities for the next five years and energy solutions are part of the package.

“We have set priorities for the next five years. We are increasing investment in energy research and development, capacity building of researchers, investment in infrastructure and equipment for energy research, promoting multi-disciplinary-multi-institutional collaborative research,” he said.

Midlands State University

Mr Chinyemba said the council will ensure monitoring and evaluation of research projects, development of centres of excellence, curation of all research on energy and improvement on the grants management system.

Zera is on record urging consumers to adopt alternative energy sources such as solar to ease demand for electricity and alleviate power shortages in the country.

This comes amid reports that about 40 percent of electricity used to heat water by individuals and companies is causing unnecessary power shortages leading to load shedding.chronicle.cl.zw