Abstract
Southern Africa has been grappling with power shortages over the last decade due to reduced generating capacities from the
region’s few hydroelectric power plants and depleted coal reserves for thermal power generation. This forced many companies to
operate below capacity, although potential and resources abound. Research was carried out at one of Zimbabwe’s platinum mining
and mineral processing companies to utilize the vast surrounding wastelands with abundant exposure to sunshine throughout the
year to augment supplies from the national grid. A spreadsheet model was developed to derive various parameters such as beam
radiation, thermal to electric plant efficiency and optimum temperature to determine the heat output incident on collectors. The
System Advisor Model (SAM) was then used to simulate the values to determine the arrangement of collectors on the proposed
solar thermal tower power plant as well as cost the project. Simulation of the model showed that the designed solar thermal plant
can generate 30 MW, a sustainable and feasible output to supplement supplies from the national grid.