Country Overview
The African country of the Republic of Namibia is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Zambia, Angola, Botswana, and South Africa. The population of Namibia is approximately 2.62 million people.
In 2022, Namibia’s economy was ranked 139th in gross domestic product (GDP) in the world. The country’s economy is dependent on the export of diamonds, radioactive chemicals, raw copper, gold, and fish fillets.
Environmental Policies
In 2016, Namibia signed the Paris Climate Agreement, committing to an 8.9% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to business as usual.
Power Generation Capabilities
In 2021, 74.7% of the people in Namibia had access to electricity. In 2021, state-owned utility, NamPower used renewable energy (95.5%), coal (3.2%), and oil (1.3%) to generate electricity in Namibia. Hydropower and solar are the dominant types of renewable energy used to generate electricity in Namibia.
Recent renewable energy projects in Namibia include:
- 600 MW Hydropower Project – The Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), cooperative of national electricity companies in Southern Africa are continuing work on the Baynes Hydropower project in northwestern Namibia. The project is forecast to be commissioned by 2030.
- 50 MW Wind Project – Namibian independent power company, InnoSun Energy Holdingis continuing work on a wind project at a site approximately 225 miles southwest of the nation’s capital, Windhoek. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2023.
- 40 MW Wind Project – Namibia’s electric utility, NamPower is continuing work on the Lüderitz Wind Farm-I project at a site approximately 300 miles southwest of Windhoek. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2023.
- 25 MW Solar Projects – The municipal government of Windhoek is continuing work on the installation of five, 5 MW photovoltaic solar projects. The five solar projects are forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2024.
- 20 MW Solar Project – Namibian renewable energy company, Access Aussenkehr Solar One is continuing work on the Khan solar project at a site approximately 80 miles west-northwest of Windhoek. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2023.
- 20 MW Solar Project – Namibian solar company, Hopsol Africa is continuing work on the Omburo solar project at a site approximately 100 miles northwest of Windhoek. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2023.
Conclusions
Namibia has vast undeveloped renewable energy resources, including hydropower, onshore wind, offshore wind, solar, and biomass. Stand-alone, utility scale photovoltaic solar projects are now being built to supply electricity to remote areas of the country.
Namibia’s goal is to become an energy exporter of green electricity to neighboring countries; Angola, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa. Namibia’s renewable energy goal will help countries in Southern Africa to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Jack Kerfoot
Website – “Our Energy Conundrum”
www.jackkerfoot.com
Jack Kerfoot is a scientist, energy expert, and author of the book FUELING AMERICA, An Insider’s Journey and articles for The Hill, one of the largest independent political news sites in the United States. He has been interviewed on over 100 radio, podcast, and television stations from New York City to Los Angeles on a diverse range of energy issues.