Solar-powered UN House lights the way for a greener and more efficient Botswana

The United Nations in Botswana has inaugurated the “Office Energy Efficient Project”, a 75kWp rooftop solar photovoltaic system, and an electric vehicle.

The newly installed system will meet the office's daily energy needs with 141,959kWh per year, with 50,081kWh sold back to the grid. The system will provide the office with a US$11,566.00 reduction in electricity costs annually and 201 tonnes of total carbon emissions savings yearly.  After ten years, a return on investment will be achieved. This supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while also promoting green energy solutions and inspiring local communities to adopt similar solutions.

This move comes with the UN's revised Business Operations Strategy (BOS) that guides strategic planning, management, monitoring, and reporting of the UN Country Team's joint support. 

EXTRAORDINARY BENEFITS

The new solar powered office contributes to five sustainable development goals, spotlighting an extraordinary achievement. 

• SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy
• SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
• SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities
• SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production
• SDG 13: Climate action

"In Botswana, our road to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development starts at home. Our solar energy system can be a model for other UN Country Offices to show how we can jointly, sustainably and effectively tackle greenhouse emissions while reducing operational costs, and scale up support across the United Nations System. Greening our business operations can help maximise efficiency, improve productivity, and in turn support the transition of the country to a more sustainable energy future," said UN Botswana Resident Coordinator Zia Choudhury. 

AN IDEAL ENVIRONMENT FOR CLEAN ENERGY

Botswana possesses the ideal geography, topography, and climate for a seamless transition to renewable energy. Across Botswana, there is an average of 3332 hours of sunlight per year (of a possible 4383) with an average of 9:07 of sunlight per day. suitable for solar energy solutions. 

UNDP also unveiled an electric vehicle which will be powered by the solar PV system, marking a significant step towards sustainable transportation. “UNDP urges more stakeholders to embrace electric mobility as a vital move towards reducing emissions and preserving the environment,” said UNDP Resident Representative Balazs Horvath.

E-Mobility is a crucial factor in the sustainable growth of the UN system, aiming to achieve zero-carbon emissions and promote risk-informed sustainable development. This includes the substitution of Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) with cleaner energy alternatives. 

In line with the UN's commitment to the 'Smart UN Facilities and the Sustainable Development Goals', this solar project shows how a UN Common premises can work in action, and how the United Nations Sustainable Development Coordination Framework can be coherently implemented in countries.