Zimbabwe plans to begin construction of its first floating solar power plant in 2026, marking a significant shift in how the country expands electricity supply without adding pressure to land-based infrastructure.
The project will be built on Lake Kariba in northern Zimbabwe and developed in three phases, reaching a total installed capacity of 600 megawatts. Construction of the first 150 MW phase is scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2026. Full completion is expected between 2030 and 2031.
The project is being developed by renewable energy company GreenGrid. Government estimates suggest it could contribute up to $4.7 billion to the national economy over its lifetime by easing power shortages, lowering reliance on imports, and improving supply stability for industry and households.
Total project costs are estimated at between $550 million and $650 million. Earlier this year, the African Export-Import Bank provided $4.4 million to fund bankability and feasibility studies, a step required before securing full project financing.
At full scale, the floating solar installation will cover about 10 square kilometres, representing roughly one percent of Lake Kariba’s surface area. Project planners say this limited footprint is intended to minimise environmental disruption while making use of existing water infrastructure.
Angios Mazuka, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, said the government expects the entire project to be operational by 2030 or 2031. He added that authorities are considering similar installations at other dam sites across the country once the Kariba project is established.
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Before construction can proceed, the project must secure approvals from the Zambezi River Authority, which is jointly owned by Zimbabwe and Zambia and oversees the management of Lake Kariba.
For Zimbabwe, the project carries strategic weight. Hydropower output from Kariba has become less predictable due to water level fluctuations, while thermal generation remains constrained by fuel and maintenance challenges. Floating solar offers a way to add capacity at scale without competing for scarce land or water rights.
If approvals are granted on schedule, the Kariba project will serve as a test case for whether floating solar can become a practical pillar of Zimbabwe’s long-term power system.
By Thuita Gatero, Managing Editor, Africa Digest News. He specializes in conversations around data centers, AI, cloud infrastructure, and energy.
