Cost for solar power plant

Here is an overview of the typical capital costs for a 1MW solar photovoltaic power plant:

  • Solar modules - $0.5 - $0.6 million for crystalline silicon panels rated at 5W per sqft.
  • Inverters - $50,000 - $100,000 for grid-tied inverter system and controls.
  • Mounting system - $50,000 - $150,000 for fixed tilt or tracking mounts.
  • Electrical equipment - $50,000 - $100,000 for transformers, switchgear, monitoring.
  • Site preparation - $50,000 - $100,000 for grading, access, perimeter.
  • Installation labor - $50,000 - $100,000 depending on complexity.
  • Permitting and engineering - $50,000 - $100,000.
  • Total: Approximately $800,000 to $1.2 million.

The wide range accounts for differences in site location, labor rates, type of PV panels, mounting system and other factors. Economies of scale provide some cost savings for larger utility-scale systems.

1MW solar PV power plant expressed in terms of cost per square meter:

  • Solar modules - $100 - $120 per sqm. Crystalline silicon panels are typically rated at 200W per sqm.
  • Inverters - $10 - $20 per sqm. Sized based on peak capacity.
  • Mounting system - $10 - $30 per sqm. Depends on mounting type.
  • Electrical equipment - $10 - $20 per sqm.
  • Site preparation - $10 - $20 per sqm. Grading and access roads.
  • Installation labor - $10 - $20 per sqm. Based on crew size.
  • Permitting/engineering - $10 - $20 per sqm.
  • Total: Approximately $160 to $250 per sqm.

The total PV system size for 1MW is typically 4000 - 5000 sqm depending on the solar irradiance availability.

Land needed

Here are some conservative estimates for the land area needed for a 5 MW solar PV facility in Africa:

  • Assume a location in sub-Saharan Africa with an average solar insolation of 5.5 kWh/m2/day
  • Use a conservative capacity factor of 15% for the solar PV system
  • A solar panel with 20% efficiency and 1 m2 area will produce on average: 5.5 kWh/m2/day x 0.2 efficiency = 1.1 kWh per day 1.1 kWh/day x 365 days x 0.15 capacity factor = 61.2 kWh per year
  • So each 1 m2 of solar panels will generate about 61.2 kWh per year
  • The solar facility needs to generate 5 MW x 24 hours x 365 days = 43,800 MWh per year
  • So total solar panels needed: 43,800,000 kWh / 61.2 kWh/m2 = 715,195 m2
  • Add ~20% extra land for spacing, access roads etc.
  • Total land area required: 715,195 m2 x 1.2 = 858,235 m2
  • Which is 86 hectares or 0.86 km2

So for a 5 MW solar PV facility with a 15% capacity factor in sub-Saharan Africa, a conservative estimate is around 86 hectares or 0.86 km2 of land area.

If we only need it for 8 hours, then we can do ⅓

  • We need 300,000m2 land for solar for the datacenter

Zanzibar suitable?

Here are a few factors that indicate Zanzibar has relatively good suitability for solar energy production:

  • Solar Irradiation - Zanzibar receives average solar insolation of around 5.5-6.0 kWh/m2 per day. This is considered a good level of solar resource for photovoltaic electricity generation.
  • Close to Equator - At around 6 degrees South latitude, Zanzibar's location close to the equator provides consistent solar exposure throughout the year.
  • Low Rainfall - The archipelago experiences lower rainfall amounts compared to other tropical regions. This allows for more days of direct sun exposure for solar panels versus cloudier areas.
  • Land Availability - As an archipelago, land area is limited for large-scale solar farms. But the islands have ample unused land that could host small- to medium-scale solar developments. Rooftop solar also has significant potential.
  • Growing Electricity Demand - Zanzibar has an emerging economy with increasing power demand that could benefit from distributed solar generation to supplement the grid.
  • Decreasing Solar Costs - The global decline in solar PV costs makes adoption more feasible compared to past years.
  • Supportive Policies - Tanzania has begun establishing policies like tax exemptions and net metering that can incentivize solar generation.

sunlight per day

Here are some details on the average amount of sunlight per day in Zanzibar that is usable for solar energy:

  • Zanzibar has an equatorial location off the east coast of Africa and receives abundant sunlight throughout the year.
  • Average peak sun hours per day (hours with direct sunshine) is around 6-7 hours.
  • For solar photovoltaic (PV) panels oriented appropriately, the average daily solar irradiation is about 5.5-6.0 kWh/m2.
  • This solar irradiation includes both direct and diffuse sunlight. PV panels can utilize both components for electricity generation.
  • Assuming a conservative 15% conversion efficiency for solar panels, the average usable sunlight is around 0.825 - 0.9 kWh/m2 per day.
  • More advanced solar cell efficiencies up to 22% could provide over 1.2 kWh/m2 of usable electricity generation per day.
  • Seasonal variation in usable sunlight is low due to Zanzibar's equatorial location. Output is fairly consistent throughout the year.
  • Some cloud cover and humidity during the April-May rainy periods can slightly reduce usable sunlight.

So in summary, Zanzibar benefits from excellent solar resources with approximately 6-7 peak sun hours and 5.5-6 kWh/m2 of daily irradiation. After accounting for real-world system efficiencies, on average 0.8 - 1.2 kWh/m2 of this sunlight can be utilized daily for electricity generation using solar photovoltaic panels.