The Planned Off-Grid Solar Upgrade
The existing 2,100 sqm Harare facility currently runs on grid power with a modest existing solar system and fiber internet. The planned 22kW solar + 88kWh battery and Starlink upgrade — the core of our current funding ask — will eliminate grid dependency before Cohort 1 launches in Q2 2026.
The Problem
Zimbabwe's Electricity Crisis
Zimbabwe's power grid, managed by ZESA through its distribution arm ZETDC, has been in crisis for over a decade. The country's installed generation capacity is approximately 2,300 MW, but available capacity frequently falls below 1,200 MW due to aging infrastructure, low water levels at Kariba Dam, and chronic underinvestment.
Load shedding of 12-18 hours per day is common in urban areas. Rural areas may go days without power. Businesses in Harare report losing 4-8 productive hours daily — even with scheduled load shedding.
For a business incubator, power unreliability is not an inconvenience — it is an existential threat. Founders cannot run investor video calls, update e-commerce platforms, operate 3D printers, or maintain development environments when power cuts strike unpredictably.
Crisis by the Numbers
Available generation against ~2,300 MW installed capacity
Daily load shedding in urban areas
Productive hours lost per business per day
Monthly diesel generator cost for businesses
Our Solution
Planned infrastructure upgrade. Grant funding will enable Mazano Hub to install a 22kW off-grid solar system with 88kWh lithium battery storage — replacing the facility's existing modest solar setup. Once installed, the system will deliver continuous clean power to every workstation, conference room, and manufacturing tool in the facility, covering approximately 90% of daily consumption from solar alone and providing 8-10 hours of overnight and cloudy-day operation from the battery bank.
| Component | Specification | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Panels | 40 x 550W Monocrystalline | 22kW peak output. Highest efficiency per sq meter. 25-year performance warranty. |
| Inverters | 2 x 10kW Hybrid | 20kW continuous output with surge capacity. Manages solar, battery, and optional grid input. |
| Battery Storage | 88kWh LiFePO4 Lithium | 4,000-6,000 cycle lifespan. 95% depth of discharge. 10-year warranty. Zero maintenance. |
| Charge Controllers | 2 x MPPT | Maximum power point tracking for optimal energy harvest. |
| Solar Irradiance | 5.5-6.5 kWh/m2/day | Among the highest in the world. 2,800-3,200 sunshine hours per year. |
| Daily Output | ~88 kWh/day | At 5 peak sun hours with 80% system efficiency. Covers ~90% of daily consumption. |
Starlink Connectivity
Enterprise-Grade Satellite Internet
Planned upgrade. The facility currently runs on a fiber internet connection. Grant funding will enable Mazano Hub to deploy dual Starlink Business terminals to replace fiber with enterprise-grade satellite internet independent of local telecom infrastructure. With load balancing across both terminals, the facility will support video conferencing, cloud development, e-commerce operations, and general browsing simultaneously across 30+ workstations.
Each terminal will consume just 50-75W continuously — a modest load easily absorbed by the planned solar system. The result will be always-on internet independent of ZESA, local ISPs, and fuel supply chains.
Internet Options Compared
| Feature | Starlink Business | Local ISP (Fibre) | Traditional VSAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Download Speed | 50-200 Mbps | 10-50 Mbps | 5-25 Mbps |
| Latency | 20-40 ms | 15-50 ms | 600-800 ms |
| Monthly Cost | $200/terminal | $50-$150 | $200-$500 |
| Grid Dependent | No | Yes | No |
| Video Call Quality | Excellent | Variable | Poor (high latency) |
500-700 Additional Productive Hours per Cohort
Once the planned solar + Starlink upgrades are complete, Mazano Hub entrepreneurs will gain the equivalent of nearly three extra months of productivity over a 6-month incubation period compared to founders working from load-shedding-affected locations. The table below shows projected post-upgrade performance.
| Metric | Typical Harare Business | Mazano Hub |
|---|---|---|
| Productive hours/day | 6-8 (interrupted) | 10-12 (uninterrupted) |
| Monthly internet cost | $50-$150 for 10-50 Mbps (unreliable) | Included in workspace |
| Generator fuel cost | $300-$800/month | $0 |
| Equipment damage risk | Regular (voltage fluctuations) | Near zero |
| Video call reliability | Frequent drops | Consistent |
| Cloud/SaaS access | Intermittent | Always available |
Founders take on international freelance contracts and join global accelerator programs with reliable video and internet.
3D printers and CNC equipment run without interruption. A single outage can waste hours of work and materials.
A professional, well-lit, always-connected facility signals operational readiness that unstable connections cannot match.
Cost & ROI
The 22kW solar system pays for itself within 3-5 years compared to diesel generation, then provides 15-20 additional years of near-free power. For a co-working space where quiet, clean operation is essential, solar is the only viable option.
| Metric | Diesel Generator | Solar + Battery |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Cost | $5,000-$8,000 (20kVA genset) | $41,100 |
| Annual Fuel | $7,200-$12,000 | $0 |
| Annual Maintenance | $1,500-$2,500 | $500 |
| Equipment Lifespan | 5-8 years | 25 years (panels), 10 years (batteries) |
| 10-Year Total Cost | $95,000-$153,000 | $57,100 |
| Noise | High (disruptive) | Silent |
| Emissions | Significant (CO2, particulates) | Zero |
Environmental Impact
Once installed, the planned 22kW solar system will generate approximately 32,000-35,000 kWh per year. Against Zimbabwe's coal-heavy grid emission factor of 0.8-1.0 kg CO2/kWh, this will translate to substantial carbon avoidance — equivalent to taking 6-7 cars off the road permanently.
African nations contribute minimally to global emissions but bear the greatest climate impacts. Mazano Hub is being built to demonstrate that African entrepreneurs can run businesses powered entirely by clean energy, leapfrogging the fossil fuel dependency that characterized industrialization elsewhere. Just as mobile banking allowed Africa to skip traditional banking infrastructure, distributed solar allows African businesses to skip unreliable centralized grids entirely.
SDG Alignment
Affordable and Clean Energy
Planned off-grid solar to power 100% of facility
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Incubating enterprises that create employment
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Purpose-built innovation infrastructure
Climate Action
Zero-emission operations, climate-resilient design
Case Studies
Solar-powered workspaces are already proving the model across Africa. These organizations demonstrate that reliable, clean energy is the foundational requirement for any innovation hub on the continent.
Impact Hub Kigali
Co-working and innovation space incorporating solar power as part of Rwanda's clean energy push. Hosts entrepreneurs, NGOs, and tech startups with reliable power.
CcHub Lagos
Facing power challenges comparable to Zimbabwe, CcHub relies on solar-diesel hybrid systems. Proved that entrepreneurs will pay premium rates for guaranteed power.
Moto Republik Cape Town
Co-working and events space integrating sustainable design with solar power. South Africa's load shedding crisis accelerated commercial solar adoption.
Liquid Intelligent Technologies
Headquartered in Zimbabwe, Liquid has invested in solar for data centers and network operations — proving even high-power-demand tech runs on solar here.
Partner With Us
Help power the next generation of African entrepreneurs.
Whether you are a donor, a solar technology partner, or an organization aligned with clean energy and economic development in Africa — we want to hear from you. Every kilowatt-hour powers a founder's future.
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