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The following is an extract.

【Abstract】
Zimbabwe relies on hydroelectric power. In rural parts of the country, 80-90% of the people depend on wood fuel and kerosene for cooking lighting. Food processing tasks like milling grain are usually carried out with a diesel-powered system.

Total electricity generation in 2009 was 7,900 gigawatt hours (Gwh). 53% of this was produced from renewable sources. Electricity consumption per capita in 2009 stood at 1,022-kilowatt hours (kWh). 33.9% of this total installed capacity was from hydroelectric plants.
Zimbabwe relies on hydroelectric power. In rural parts of the country, 80-90% of the people depend on wood fuel and kerosene for cooking lighting. Food processing tasks like milling grain are usually carried out with a diesel-powered system.

This case focuses on how Powerlive a for profit women-led social enterprise that sells, distributes and installs high-quality decentralized and scaleable new generation of modular solar home and business energy systems on Pay As You Go (PAYG) basis.

== Main Highlights ==

The Problem:
In Africa, there are many individual, rural, off-the-grid households that are small scale farmers and rural businesses as well as institutions like schools and churches. The lack of access to energy leaves them in the dark, reducing their productivity and quality of life.

The Context:
Sharon is the CEO for Powerlive Zimbabwe, a leading energy provider generating clean, safe and sustainable energy solutions to women and their communities in Zimbabwe. Her ambition is to make women’s lives better and empower them in the smallest way possible through renewable resources.

The Solution:
Powerlive is a social enterprise that makes affordable clean energy available to remote rural off-grid communities through a PAYGO model. We are providing accessible and affordable clean solar energy for both domestic and productive use.

Impact Statement:
The project will provide energy access to over 4,000 rural households and generate annual savings of EUR 240 000 in energy-related expenditure. The systems will generate 300 MWh of clean energy per year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing kerosene, candles and other non-renewable energy sources. The project will create jobs for 550 women in Zimbabwe.

Systems Perspective:
Powerlive C.E.O, Sharon Yeti believes that access to energy services can improve women’s health and well-being thereby supporting the achievement of SDG 5 on gender equality and SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy in line with the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

Case Overview
The Problem:
Although national electricity access stands at 40%, access to electricity in rural areas (19%) is much lower than that in urban areas (80%) due to the prohibitive costs of extending national electricity grids.

Capacity is a major concern in Zimbabwe. No new developments have occurred in the country’s generation sector since the commissioning of the Hwange Coal Plant in 1988. Thus only about 60% of the country’s installed capacity is available.

Furthermore, all coal-fired stations in Zimbabwe are in need of major upgrades as currently they have frequent production stops or are not producing at all. This has led to frequent and long lasting blackouts in the country. Imports of energy from neighboring countries are not enough to solve the under capacity problem. As a result, power outages continue to affect the economic performance of industries and services. Small-scale power generators are used all over the country to ease this situation.