RENEWABLE ENERGY potential in Namibia

Namibia, a country blessed with abundant sunlight and favourable wind conditions, holds significant potential for renewable energy development. The country’s location, coupled with its natural resources, presents an excellent opportunity to harness solar and wind power. This article explores the current renewable energy landscape, including load factors, regulatory environment, transmission infrastructure, and the challenges associated with intermittency and baseload supply.

Load factor, a critical measure in the energy sector, indicates the efficiency and reliability of a power source. For solar energy in Namibia, the load factor is exceptionally high when compared to most geographies due to the country’s location in Southern Africa. With over 300 days of sunshine annually, Namibia experiences an average solar load factor of around 20-35%. This is significantly higher than many other regions globally, making solar power a comparatively competitive option.

Wind energy also presents a promising opportunity. Coastal areas, particularly around Lüderitz, experience strong and consistent winds. The load factor for wind energy in these regions reaches above 50%, reflecting the potential for substantial energy generation from wind farms.

On the regulatory side, Namibia’s regulatory environment is progressively evolving to support renewable energy production and even export. The Namibian Electricity Control Board (ECB) oversees the regulation of electricity generation, transmission and distribution. The nation’s commitment to green energy is evident through initiatives like the National Renewable Energy Policy, which aims to promote renewable energy investments and infrastructure.

The introduction of the Modified Single Buyer (MSB) model has significantly transformed the regulatory landscape. This model allows Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to sell electricity across the national distribution and transmission networks to local customers and to export customers. Additionally, Namibia is part of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), which enables power trading with neighbouring countries. This regional cooperation framework is crucial in unlocking the potential for exporting excess renewable energy to countries facing power deficits.

A robust transmission infrastructure is essential for effective energy distribution, both within Namibia and for export purposes. It must, however, be noted that Namibia imports between 60-70% of its electricity from neighbouring countries, which means that most of the electricity bound for export could simply displace imports. NamPower has laid out ambitious plans to enhance and expand the country’s transmission network. Over the next three years, NamPower aims to invest approximately N$14 billion in new power plants and transmission lines.

Some projects include the development of the transmission systems in Kunene and Erongo, which are crucial for integrating renewable energy sources into the national grid. Additionally, NamPower is exploring advanced technologies such as high-voltage direct current systems. These systems are designed to efficiently transmit electricity over long distances, making them ideal for exporting power to neighbouring countries.

Despite these advancements, challenges remain. The current transmission infrastructure requires significant upgrades to handle the increased load from renewable energy sources. Moreover, the geographic vastness of Namibia means that rural and remote areas often lack access to the national grid. Addressing these challenges is vital to ensure equitable access of electricity across the country.

The intermittency of renewable energy sources like solar and wind poses a challenge to maintaining a stable energy supply. Solar power generation is subject to daily and seasonal variations, while wind power can be unpredictable. This intermittency can strain the baseload supply, which is the continuous and reliable power needed to meet minimum demand.

Namibia’s current energy mix is heavily reliant on hydropower, supplemented by the above-mentioned imports from neighbouring countries. The Ruacana Hydroelectric Power Station, with a capacity of 347 MW, is the primary source of domestic electricity. However, hydropower is also subject to seasonal variability, particularly during drought periods.

To mitigate the impact of renewable energy intermittency, Namibia can explore several strategies. One approach is to diversify the energy mix by incorporating more dispatchable sources of power, such as biomass and gas-to-power projects. Biomass energy, derived from encroacher bush, offers a sustainable and dispatchable power source that can complement intermittent renewables.

NamPower recognises the need for a balanced mix of renewable energy, baseload generation and, potentially, energy storage solutions to ensure grid stability. Developing storage systems, such as batteries, could be explored to store excess energy generated during peak production times. This stored energy could then be used during periods of low generation, helping to stabilise the grid. Investing in such technologies will be crucial as Namibia continues to expand its renewable energy capacity.

Namibia has immense potential for solar and other renewable energy generation, but realising this potential requires strategic planning and investment. Strengthening regulatory frameworks is crucial to attract more IPPs and private investments. This can be achieved by streamlining approval processes and providing clear guidelines for renewable energy projects. Additionally, investing in transmission infrastructure is essential to support the integration of renewable energy sources. This includes ensuring that rural and remote areas are connected to the national grid, promoting equitable access to electricity.

Enhancing regional cooperation is another key step. Namibia can leverage its participation in the SAPP to facilitate the export of renewable energy and strengthen bilateral agreements with neighbouring countries to create a stable market for surplus power. Promoting research and development is also vital to explore innovative solutions for energy storage and grid management. Encouraging partnerships with international organisations and research institutions can help Namibia stay at the forefront of renewable energy technologies. Lastly, increasing public awareness and education about the benefits of renewable energy and engaging communities in the planning and implementation of projects will ensure local support and participation.

Namibia stands at the cusp of a renewable energy revolution. With its abundant solar and wind resources, the country has the potential to become a leader in renewable energy production and export in Southern Africa. By addressing regulatory, infrastructural and intermittency challenges, Namibia can harness its renewable energy potential to achieve energy security, economic growth and environmental sustainability. The journey towards a greener future requires collaborative efforts from the government, private sector and communities to unlock the full potential of Namibia’s renewable energy resources.

Zane Feris Research Analyst

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