Cicada Solar Commissions 2.7MW Rooftop PV System at Zimbabwe's Largest Food Producer, Boosting Energy Security Amid Power Crisis
Key Insights
Cicada Solar has successfully commissioned a 2.7MW rooftop solar PV installation at National Foods' Aspindale plant in Harare, Zimbabwe.
This significant project aims to reduce National Foods' reliance on the unstable national grid by 30% and mitigate high diesel generator costs.
The installation is part of National Foods' broader $50 million capital investment strategy and addresses Zimbabwe's severe daily power outages.
The initiative highlights a growing trend of industrial self-generation in Zimbabwe, with further solar expansions planned by National Foods and NatPak.
Cicada Solar has successfully commissioned a 2.7-megawatt (MW) rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) installation at National Foods' Aspindale plant in Harare, Zimbabwe. This strategic deployment marks a significant step towards enhancing energy security for National Foods, the country's largest food producer, amidst persistent national power outages.
The newly operational solar array is designed to alleviate the considerable operational challenges posed by Zimbabwe's unreliable grid, which frequently experiences daily power cuts extending up to 10 hours. Such disruptions have historically forced commercial and industrial entities to depend heavily on costly diesel generator backup systems. The 2.7MW system is projected to reduce National Foods' reliance on state-supplied grid power by 30% and is expected to yield substantial savings by offsetting diesel consumption.
This investment aligns with National Foods' broader capital expenditure strategy, which has seen the company invest over $50 million in the past five years. A recent highlight of this strategy was the commissioning of new pasta, biscuit, and cereal production lines, representing a $22.7 million component of the total investment. Ensuring a stable and sustainable power supply for these expanded operations is critical for maintaining production efficiency and competitiveness.
“Our burden on the national grid and reliance on back-up diesel generator systems will be reduced,” a National Foods statement confirmed, underscoring the operational and financial benefits of the solar integration. The company has further plans to expand its solar footprint, with another installation slated for its Stirling Road facility in 2026. This future project aims to contribute to National Foods' overarching goal of reducing its dependence on the national utility, ZESA, by 35% across its group operations.
The Aspindale project follows Cicada Solar's recent commissioning of a 528-kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar PV installation at NatPak Flexibles, another Zimbabwean packaging solutions provider in Harare. Cicada Solar not only installed the NatPak plant but also financed and will operate and maintain the system, showcasing a comprehensive service model that facilitates corporate adoption of renewable energy. These projects collectively highlight a growing trend among Zimbabwean industrial players to invest in self-generation capabilities to mitigate energy insecurity and operational costs.