Local money for cheap solar electricity

President Nangolo Mbumba said that Namibia is committed to energy transition and a strategic shift for which the recent inauguration of the cheapest source of solar generated electricity in March, is another concrete step. The president said that, “there is no contradiction between Namibia’s rationale to develop its newly discovered oil resource potential while pursuing the decarbonization agenda. The emphasis is on energy transition, so that we gradually move towards the desired end goal of energy renewables, whilst simultaneously utilizing oil resources as part of the energy mix.”Some 25km from Usakos, Hopsol has been building Alpha Namibia Industries Renewable Energy Power (ANIREP)’s Khan 25MW peak solar electricity generation park, which was renamed after liberation hero and late Namibian leader Moses ||Garoëb by president Nangolo Mbumba early in March. Hopsol carried out the engineering, procurement and construction for the project, while Anirep also bought some of the major equipment directly. Having secured a 25 year power purchase agreement with Nampower, proponents of the project are already investigating the possibility of expanding on the 20 MW that the plant delivers daily.No less than 47 358 solar panels are mounted on single access tracks, and the bifacial modules are even able to generate electricity in the shade, while tracking the sun through the sky. The power is fed via a 66kV line from the adjacent Khan substation, directly into the national grid. Five independent inverter stations handle about 4000 kV each, and the powerstation is capable of electrifying some 18 500 homes.At the event Silvester Wayiti, Hopsol Africa chief executive officer explained that his company is a subsidiary of the Anirep group and that about 150 people from the surrounding towns of Arandis and Usakos, as well as from nearby farms, were employed on the project to compliment his company’s own engineers, artisans and technicians. Many of these project based workers were upskilled to foreman or even supervisor levels in each of the relevant civil, mechanical and electrical disciplines, he added. Wayiti was most proud to point out only two lost-time-injury incidents. He also highlighted the local economic participation led by five local companies that supplied accommodation, food and logistical support to the contractors.Managing director for Anirep, Iyaloo Ya Nangolo said that the launch of the plant marks a milestone for Namibia’s journey towards renewable power generation, characterised by vision, collaboration and determination. “We aim to propel Namibia towards clean energy and to bridge the access to electricity gap. Namibia’s greatest asset is the sun, which also features on our national flag,” he said.“This is an example of what can be achieved through private and public collaboration in pursuit of energy independence for Namibia,” he said.The N$370 million investment is the largest private sector investment into clean energy in the country, according to Ya Nangolo. “This Khan solar plant helps us on the way to significantly increase Namibia’s renewable energy capacity,” he added.Since childhood Ya Nangolo has been passionate about ending the situation where he experienced studying by paraffin lamplight, and bringing electricity to every house across the country. “Namibia relies heavily on (electricity) imports from South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. With projects like Khan, we are working towards energy self-reliance,” he said. “We are exploring the integration of battery energy storage at the plant”, he said.Anirep was listed on the Namibian stock exchange in 2019, and started with funding its first 11 MW project in 2020, before adding about 4 MW rooftop solar installations the following year. By 2022 the investor secured its first 28 MW project for Nampower, and along with its solar plant in Otjiwarongo already boasts 40 MW connected to the national grid, with 4 MW more expected before the end of 2025. Anirep owns about 17% of the Namibian renewable energy market, and aims to secure 30% by 2026/7, he said. “We are committed to creating long term value,” according to Ya Nangolo.Nampower managing director Kahenge Simson Haulofu explained that the project was initially signed between the national utility and Aussenkehr Energy Investment, with partners from Dubai. When the foreign partners withdrew, Anirep took up the 55% stake in the project with approval from Nampower, he explained. Following the recent inauguration of the Anixas II 50 MW base-load power station in Walvis Bay, Haulofu said that there is now, “a lot (of generation capacity) coming to our grid. The generation is complemented by transmission and I am happy with our robust transmission master plan. The Erongo grid is very robust. Nampower is geared toward ensuring security of supply and a predictable tariff path,” he said. “This project is the cheapest (renewable electricity) generation in the country,” he said adding that the Khan Moses ||Garoëb plant produces electricity at only 49,5 cents per kilowatt hour. “We want cheap power to suppress the costs for the man on the street,” said Haulofu.Minister of mines and energy Tom Alweendo agreed that, “security of energy is not enough. Electricity must be affordable for the average Namibian household and business. Our energy policy must balance investment and affordability, ensuring that no Namibian is left in the dark due to expensive electricity. This is a call for action for more projects like this. The government, the private sector and the people of Namibia must work together,” he said. “This is the dawn of a new era where Namibia generates its own power, drives its own development and lights up its own future,” the minister said. At the same occasion Aussenkehr Energy Investment boss and former cabinet minister Helmut Angula said, “the electrification of the land of the brave is a commitment that will attract further investment. The country is blessed with wind, solar radiation and sea waves so we should not only aim for self-reliance, but should go beyond the call of duty to supply the region where demand is guaranteed,” he said.

Local money for cheap solar electricity

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Republikein 2025-03-17

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