ARISTON Holdings Limited, a Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed agricultural company, says its investment in solar energy projects have led to significant financial savings through reduced reliance on generators and associated maintenance costs.
The group’s largest investment so far is the plant at Southdown Estate in Chipinge, which was installed in July 2023.
The plant is integrated into the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) grid through a net metering arrangement.
Many corporations have invested in solar power, driven by the need for reliable and sustainable energy sources.
Notable examples include Caledonia Mining Corporation, Schweppes Zimbabwe, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, and Tongaat Hulett, among others.
These investments seek to reduce reliance on the national grid and ensure consistent operations.
Government has since issued several independent power producer licences to meet the growing demand for power due to economic expansion.
Zimbabwe is actively working towards becoming a net energy exporter, aiming to generate more electricity than it consumes and potentially sell excess power to neighbouring countries.
Ariston’s game-changer Southdown Estate solar plant, has generation capacity of 1,2 MW, allowing it to harness the power of renewable energy and reduce its carbon footprint.
Ariston is involved in the production and marketing of a variety of agricultural commodities. It operates five business centres around the country, with a primary focus on tea, macadamia nuts and other crops.