Private investment in wind and solar could help Namibia to move away from dependence on unreliable hydropower and expensive imports. Indeed, our analysis suggests this is the cheapest and best technological pathway for Namibia and should thus be prioritized by energy planners.
1.2. Background Namibia has a small energy system that is dominated by its 347MW Ruacana hydropower plant, along with imports from neighbors facing growing supply issues of their own. This system will have to be substantially expanded and improved to satisfy energy demand that is projected to double in the next 20 years.
Namibia is at a crucial point in the development of its energy system – the country must soon make critical decisions to meet its growing energy demand. In particular, it must decide whether to prioritize the development of large-scale hydropower, namely the Baynes dam, or to develop abundant solar and wind resources.
Namibia's 37MW Hardap PV project was the first large PV project in Namibia (larger than 5MW) and was commissioned within just 2 years between 2016-2018. Hardap also became one of the cheapest sources of power on the grid.58 Large hydropower projects have historically been a large source of low-cost electricity.
In Namibia, one of the largest electricity storage systems in southern Africa is currently being built – financed with a grant from KfW. Namibia has great potential for solar and wind energy, but
The electrification of these tools – either with large batteries or through high-voltage trailing cables – is progressing rapidly around the world, with Namibia''s uranium mine emerging as one of the
Surplus electricity from RE generation as well as cheaper electricity imports from the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) can be stored in the BESS. The stored energy could supply
To support these decisions, this study provides a least-cost energy investment pathway for Namibia until 2040, alongside a comparative analysis of the proposed Baynes hydropower
Scaling up investments in renewable energy sources presents a viable solution to addressing these challenges. By harnessing its solar
By releasing stored energy during evening demand peaks (6-9 PM), Namibia could reduce diesel generation by 70% [4]. The project''s 18-month timeline means we''ll see results by mid-2025 –
inerals mining, logistics, and green hydrogen. With one of the world''s best solar and wind resources, a strong pipeline of renewable projects, and major green hydrogen initiatives,
Scaling up investments in renewable energy sources presents a viable solution to addressing these challenges. By harnessing its solar and wind resources, Namibia can reduce
Let''s cut to the chase: In December 2023, Windhoek made history by launching Namibia''s first grid-scale energy storage system. This 54MWh project in Erongo Region isn''t
The driving force behind these projects is Namibia''s high dependence on imports. Roughly 60 percent of the country''s electricity comes from outside its borders, mainly South
The electrification of these tools – either with large batteries or through high-voltage trailing cables – is progressing rapidly around the world, with
Discover how Namibia"s renewable energy sector is achieving unprecedented returns through innovative storage solutions. Learn why solar-plus-storage systems now offer payback periods
Discover how Namibia"s renewable energy sector is achieving unprecedented returns through innovative storage solutions. Learn why solar-plus-storage systems now offer payback periods
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