Country snapshot · Southern Africa

Zimbabwe

Export rules: YesData as of 10 October 2026
405.8MW
Solar added in 2026 (Ember estimate, all segments)1N1,N2
+282%
Change on 20251
2025: 106.2 MW (Ember estimate)
62.0%
Access to electricity, 20242N3
6.32million
People without electricity, 2024 (DERCA calculation)2N3

Solar added each year

Ember estimates of all solar (utility-scale, distributed and off-grid), MW. 2026 is Ember’s full-year estimate.

Zimbabwe: solar added per year, 2023–2026, MW (Ember estimates)2023: 137.4 MW; 2024: 298.2 MW; 2025: 106.2 MW; 2026 estimate: 405.8 MW137.42023298.22024106.22025405.82026E
Zimbabwe: solar added per year, 2023–2026, MW (Ember estimates)2023: 137.4 MW; 2024: 298.2 MW; 2025: 106.2 MW; 2026 estimate: 405.8 MW137.42023298.22024106.22025405.82026E
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Solar added per year, MW
YearMWBasis
2023137.4Ember estimate
2024298.2Ember estimate
2025106.2Ember estimate
2026E405.8Ember estimate, full year

2.3% of Africa’s estimated 2026 solar additions (405.8 of 17,449.4 MW).1

Who has electricity

Share of people with access to electricity, 2024: rural and urban.

Zimbabwe: access to electricity, rural vs urban, 2024Rural 46.6%, urban 85.1%, national 62.0%.National 62.0%Rural 46.6%Urban 85.1%0%25%50%75%100%
Zimbabwe: access to electricity, rural vs urban, 2024Rural 46.6%, urban 85.1%, national 62.0%.National 62.0%Rural 46.6%Urban 85.1%0%50%100%
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Access to electricity, 2024
AreaAccessYear
Rural46.6%2024
Urban85.1%2024
National62.0%2024
Rural 46.6%Urban 85.1%Without electricity 6.32m (DERCA calculation)

World Bank WDI, 2024.2

How reliable is the grid for business?

Firms experiencing electrical outages (2025 survey), compared with Sub-Saharan Africa and the world.3,4N4

Zimbabwe: share of firms experiencing electrical outagesZimbabwe 52.5% (2025 survey); Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4%; World 47.5% (2025).Zimbabwe (2025)52.5%Sub-Saharan Africa72.4%World47.5%
Zimbabwe: share of firms experiencing electrical outagesZimbabwe 52.5% (2025 survey); Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4%; World 47.5% (2025).Zimbabwe (2025)52.5%Sub-SaharanAfrica72.4%World47.5%

52.5% (2025 survey) · Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4% · World 47.5% (2025)

The rules for small-scale generationN5

Export rules: Yes4–9

Regulator
ZERA
Main utility
ZESA / ZETDC
Export rulesNet Metering Regs 2018, amended 2022Show detail

Net Metering Regs 2018, amended 2022

Report data register: C49-C57
How exports are creditedBill credit, no cash (reported)Show detail

Bill credit, no cash (reported)

Report data register: C49-C57
Size limits and licensingUp to 5 MWShow detail

Up to 5 MW

Report data register: C49-C57
Mini-grid rulesNot reviewed in this edition.Show detail

Not reviewed in this edition.

Report data register: C49-C57;C49-C55
Market access beyond the utilityPrivate distribution & retail approved Oct 2025Show detail

Private distribution & retail approved Oct 2025

Report data register: C49-C57
Aggregation / VPP rulesNone foundShow detail

None found

Report data register: C49-C57

“None found” means we could not locate a rule in public sources reviewed to 10 October 2026, not that one cannot exist.

Recent developments

Dated developments, 2024–2026.

  1. Oct 2025

    Government approved private participation in electricity distribution and retail.8

  2. Mar 2022

    Net-metering cap raised from 100 kW to 5 MW.9

The full report

This is a snapshot. The full story is in Africa’s Invisible Grid.

The full analysis, with 17 exhibits on the boom, the data gap, the economics and the four building blocks, is in Africa’s Invisible Grid.

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