Lusaka hydropower energy storage

How can Zambia address the limitations of hydropower?

To address the limitations of hydropower, Zambia should consider integrating nuclear, wind, solar, and coal energy into its power grid. Each of these alternatives offers unique advantages and challenges.

Why should Zambia diversify from hydropower?

The above review of data and literature shows that Zambia’s system of energy provision had access to an abundant wealth of information as to why it should seek to diversify from hydropower prior to the power outages to 2015 and 2016.

How much electricity does Zambia need?

By 2015, electricity demand was 1959 MW, compared with installed capacity of 2411 MW (email sent by an energy officer at the Ministry of Energy on 30 April 2020); average capacity utilisation of Zambia’s hydropower dams only needed to fall below 81% for Zambia to experience power shortages.

How can Zambia reduce its vulnerability to power shortages?

By incorporating nuclear, wind, solar, and coal energy, Zambia can reduce its vulnerability to power shortages and ensure a stable, sustainable energy supply. Remember, this may not be a quick fix to what we are going through, but it may work in the now and years to come ahead.

How much hydroelectric power does Zambia have?

The availability of Zambia's hydroelectric resources from large (Kafue Gorge (990 MW), Kariba North Bank (1080 MW), and Victoria Falls (108 MW)) and small hydro facilities varies seasonally, as shown for 2014 and 2015 in Fig. 8 [ 64 ].

Can hydropower be used in the Zambezi River basin?

With the capacity utilisation of hydropower under threat by El Niño events, particularly in the Zambezi River Basin, Zambia’s system of energy provision needs to consider alternatives and complements not just to hydropower in the Zambezi River Basin, but hydropower per se.