At the start of the Task, Zen Solar and the Dutch government were very interested in promoting solar tobacco drying in Zimbabwe.  An agreement was made with the Tobacco Association Research Station to set up two solar systems on their test drying barns.

Two test systems, one air and one hydronic, were connected to a number of test barns at the research station.  The monitored air system showed a savings in wood, the primary fuel, of between 25% and 40%.  The water system was commissioned too late in the drying season to get useful data.  The performance of both systems, however, was hampered by significant air leakage in the barns which reduced the total drying efficiency.

The work done by Task experts proved to be just a start in the process of understanding an appropriate integration of solar with tobacco drying.  Unfortunately, a deterioration of the economic and political situation in Zimbabwe led to a decision by the Dutch team not to continue this project.

Test solar systems installed by barns at the Tobacco Research Station

Interior of a Curing barn