Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3232 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0573 (Online) Vol.11, No.5, 2021 13 Mozambique Solar Thermal Energy Technologies: Current Status and Future Trends Fernando Chichango * ; Luís Cristóvão Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Natural Resources, Zambeze University, Mozambique chichango@gmail.com Abstract Mozambique’s economy and population is growing fast and so its power needs. The country is amply endowed with abundant, high quality natural energy resource, but access to electricity is still a challenge to numerous people not to mention regularly blackout-related problems. Projected growth of urban and rural areas will represent a significant energy and climate challenge. The lack of access to energy is a major factor in the slow progress in attainment of the SDGs. Solar energy is seen as one of the most promising sources of energy, both for electricity supply and for thermal purpose. The country consistently presents a high level of solar radiation throughout the territory and throughout the year. The global horizontal irradiation varies between 1785 and 2206 kWh/m 2 /year, but the contribution to the overall supply is still marginal. Understanding the proper technologies for harnessing solar thermal energy is fundamental for economic growth and social development. In this study, solar thermal technologies are comprehensively reviewed and barriers and opportunities are discussed. Although the country has enormous solar potential for the use of thermal energy, there are few systems installed (3MWP) with emphasis only on domestic multi-family force circulation systems, flat solar collectors and vacuum tubes in operation in single-family homes. Also, innovation of domestic thermal systems could help to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce the costs of electricity tax in residences. Keywords: climate change, electricity, thermal energy, solar collector, radiation DOI: 10.7176/JETP/11-5-02 Publication date:October 31 st 2021 1. Introduction Socio-economic development is linked to energy demand. Energy supply has become the center of attention in the world. On the one hand, research focuses on the implementation of new energy sources, to ensure continuity and energy availability, and on the other hand, the new sources are implemented using sustainable technologies. The availability of energy resources throughout the universe is not uniform, some countries have plenty of non- renewable sources, and others have a high energy potential from renewable sources even if it is not being exploited in its fullness. The intense use of non-renewable sources to meet the energy demand, imprinted by social and economic development threatens the depletion of these resources, but has also triggered the harmful effects on the environment, thus the need for sustainable use of these resources and the search for new renewable and clean sources. Mozambique faces two major energy challenges: inadequate access to energy and climate change. About 67% of population live and work in rural areas and 80% of the energy used in the country is in the form of traditional biomass. Comprehensive reviews on renewable energy (RE) in Mozambique have been conducted by Cuvilas, et al., (2010) and Cristóvão, et al., (2021). They pointed out that the exploitation of energy resources, in addition to geographical availability, is conditional on several factors of which they stand out – socio-cultural, economic, environmental, technological and local energy policies. Solar energy is seen as one of the most promising sources of energy, both for electricity supply and for thermal purpose. The use of solar energy can take place in two ways: using solar panels to capture solar energy and transforming it into electrical energy (photovoltaic solar energy); or using solar panels for the purpose of heating water, for both residential, commercial and industrial use (solar thermal energy). Thermal solar energy has applications in residential, swimming pools, drying or industrial heating, and so on (ANELL, 2013). The country consistently presents a high level of solar radiation throughout the territory and throughout the year. The global horizontal irradiation varies between 1785 and 2206 kWh/m 2 /year, but the contribution to the overall supply is still marginal. The Government of Mozambique has set as a target the installation of 0.1 m 2 per capita of solar water heating systems by the year 2030, which will require a concerted effort of all stakeholders in the country, both public and private, as well as the development agencies (Arthur, et al., 2015). Although the performance of thermal energy sector is perceived as being below expectation, a number of energy policies have been developed, but the implementation has been limited by combination of factors that include: lack of skilled manpower, weak dissemination strategies, pricing distortion that places thermal energy at disadvantage and poor infrastructure. Thus, the purpose of this research is twofold as following: (a) to summarize the present status of solar thermal technologies, and (b) future trends of solar thermal technologies in Mozambique.