Going solar in Zimbabwe can feel overwhelming. Between load-shedding schedules, confusing quotes from installers, and a flood of equipment brands you've never heard of — it's hard to know where to start or who to trust.
That's why we built SolMate.
What is SolMate?
SolMate is a free set of solar tools built specifically for Zimbabwe. It helps you size a solar system, forecast how much power your panels will produce, look up certified equipment, and verify that what you're being sold is genuine.
Everything runs in your browser. There are no accounts to create, no data collected, and no installer trying to upsell you. Just honest, data-driven tools calibrated for local conditions — from Harare's peak sun hours to Bulawayo's dust soiling rates.
SolMate uses real climate data from 22 locations across Zimbabwe, current tariff bands, and actual equipment pricing to give you recommendations that reflect what's happening on the ground — not generic calculator results from overseas.
The Tools
SolMate has six core tools. Each one tackles a different part of the solar journey. We have a detailed walkthrough article for each — here's a quick overview of what they do.
Size Your System
Tell SolMate your location and monthly electricity usage. It gives you three recommendations at different budget levels — Essential Backup, Standard Solar, and Full Power — each with specific inverter, battery, and panel specs plus a cost estimate.
Three system tiers showing Essential Backup, Standard Solar, and Full Power recommendations
Includes a 25-year ROI projection and tips on behaviour changes that can shrink the system you need.
Size Your System
Calculate the right panels, batteries, and inverter for your home.
PV Forecast
See what today's solar conditions look like, hour by hour. The forecast combines live weather data with your location's solar profile to estimate how much your panels will generate — plus when to run heavy loads and how long your battery will last tonight.
PV Forecast
See today's solar output and the best times to run loads.
Equipment Lookup
Search over 20,000 CEC-certified panels, inverters, and batteries. Compare specs side by side and check whether a specific panel is compatible with your inverter's voltage range. Popular Zimbabwe brands are highlighted.
Equipment Lookup
Browse and compare certified solar equipment.
Panel Orientation
Figure out which way your roof faces and what angle to tilt your panels. On a phone, point at different roof faces with the built-in compass. The tool shows a production curve for each direction so you can see the real cost of a less-than-ideal mounting.
Panel Orientation
Find the ideal angle and direction for your panels.
Verify Equipment
Enter a serial number or scan a barcode to cross-reference it against known manufacturer databases. Includes a detailed red-flag checklist for spotting counterfeit panels — a real problem in Zimbabwe.
Verify Equipment
Check if your solar equipment is genuine and certified.
Settings
Personalise SolMate to match your actual setup. Once configured, every tool uses your real system specs instead of assumed defaults — giving you accurate predictions specific to your equipment.
Settings
Personalise your location, usage, and system preferences.
What's Next?
We have detailed walkthrough guides for every tool in SolMate:
- How to Use the Sizing Calculator — step-by-step walkthrough of the sizing tool
- Understanding Your Forecast — reading the PV output dashboard
- Finding the Right Equipment — navigating the equipment database
- Setting Up Your Panel Orientation — using the compass tool
- How to Verify Solar Equipment — checking serial numbers and spotting counterfeits
And more guides are on the way:
- How Solar Saves You Money in Zimbabwe — tariff bands and where the savings come from
- Grid-Tied vs Off-Grid vs Hybrid Systems — which topology fits your life and budget
- Lithium vs Lead-Acid Batteries — the real cost comparison over 10 years
- Load-Shedding Survival Guide — sizing a battery for Stage 2 through Stage 4
- Is Solar a Good Investment in 2026? — the ROI breakdown with real numbers
Have a question we should cover? A topic you'd like explained in plain language? We're building this for you — your feedback shapes what comes next.