NAMIBIA  

Though it is large, the southwestern country of Namibia has a relatively small population — and an interesting energy landscape.  

Namibia has a history of load shedding problems and has long relied on imported power from Eskom, on top of a low electrification rate of 56.3% (as of 2020). The drought at the Kariba Dam, the world’s largest reservoir and a major power source for Namibia, has also put a colossal strain on the country’s resources for some time now. 

Solar power presents an ideal solution to this problem, with the potential to provide clean water, stimulate the economy and bolster electrification.  

So, what is the country doing to increase its PV power? 

By 2030, a total of 510MW of grid-connected renewable energy capacity is set to be installed through tenders with independent power producers (IPPs), under the supervision of the Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower).  

A number of PV projects have also been in the works in the last few years, promising to boost the country’s electricity supply and foster positive development. 

PLANNED PROJECTS 

Work began on the 20MWp Khan PV plant at the end of March 2022. The plant is set to be developed by IPP Access Aussenkehr Solar One Namibia and sell electricity back to NamPower for 25 years.  

Also in March 2022, the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) provided $70 million in financing for several PV projects, including a 5.3MW plant at the Rosh Pinah mine.  

In mid-2022, Orano Mining Namibia announced it would source additional solar power for the Erongo Desalination Plant (EDP) under a 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with InnoSun Energy Holdings, which will see a new 5MW PV plat be installed at the Trekkopje site, north-east of Arandis. 

By September of the same year, Namibia’s Electricity Control Board (ECB) had issued generation and export licences to Schonau Solar Energy (SSE) for a 125MW PV plant, developed by renewable energy company Emesco.  

Namibia also has plans to build the first solar-hydrogen power plant in 2023, with the help of HDF Energy, a French IPP. This project will supply clean electricity around the clock and comprise 90MW of solar panels. 

SegenSolar is keen to foster the development of additional small and large-scale PV installations across Namibia. If you are a homeowner, you can get in touch for more details about our work. If you are an installer, you can explore our range on the portal — just log in or sign up for a free account.