Selection Criteria for a Tobacco Curing Solar Thermal Collector Energy System in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The main objective of the current paper is to select an appropriate tobacco curing solar thermal collector. Tobacco is the second largest foreign currency earner after gold in Zimbabwe. The crop’s post-harvest activities have adverse effects through application of fossil fuels especially firewood. Firewood and coal burning have negative consequences of increasing the greenhouse effects, air pollution, high levels of deforestation causing subsequent land degradation and soil nutrients depletion. Small-scale tobacco farmers are economically disempowered and resort to use firewood as the main tobacco curing fuel source. In embracing modern trends of going green, introducing solar thermal technology in Zimbabwe becomes a prerequisite. In a survey conducted among small-scale tobacco farmers in July 2020, majority of them unanimously accepted a paradigm shift towards sustainability through adopting tobacco curing solar technologies. The system should be robust, reliable, durable, affordable and sustainable for farmers to have usage confidence and guaranteeing uninterrupted performance as tobacco is temperature and humidity sensitive. The main energy generation component is the solar thermal collector with solar photovoltaic supplying the system’s electricity needs. The paper develops solar technology selection criteria through literature review. Selection made upon reviewing all the factors is the solar thermal air flat-plate collector.