The Glen View Rooftop Solar Project is pioneering a model of sustainable energy that promises both environmental and economic gains. Spearheaded by the Zimbabwe Solar Energy Company (ZiSEC), a subsidiary of Prevail Group International, the project aims to rethink energy generation in the country by converting residential rooftops into solar farms that feed electricity directly into the national grid.
The Glen View initiative is a pilot under the Presidential Solar Scheme and reflects a scalable idea for addressing Zimbabwe’s energy deficits. Using ZiSEC’s Solar Generation Partnership (SGP) model, homeowners lease their rooftops for solar panel installations. In return, they receive 20% of the tariff from the electricity generated, creating a unique incentive structure that not only empowers communities but also fosters a sense of ownership in Zimbabwe’s renewable energy transition.
This model also mitigates traditional challenges in energy transmission by localising generation. Unlike centralised power plants that lose efficiency during long-distance transmission, rooftop solar farms deliver power directly to the houses and the national grid, reducing losses and boosting system resilience.
With approximately 200 homes already connected in Glen View and another 200 to follow, the project is gearing up for its official launch by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Key stakeholders, including ZiSEC’s CEO Wisper Gwena and government officials, have highlighted the initiative’s potential to eradicate load-shedding in participating areas. ZESA Holdings, Zimbabwe’s power utility, has committed to temporarily suspend load-shedding for residential areas involved in the scheme, making participation even more attractive.
If successful, ZiSEC plans a nationwide rollout targeting the development of 500 MW of distributed rooftop solar farms.
In the words of ZiSEC CEO Wisper Gwena, “This initiative is more than an energy solution; it is a pathway to economic empowerment and environmental stewardship. It is a game changer for Zimbabwe’s future.”