Winds of change blow for Stampriet

Stampriet might become the unlikely birthplace for a revolution in Namibian manufacturing, thanks to an initiative to bring wind turbine manufacturing to Namibia.

Last week Windwise Turbine Namibia announced a significant step towards advancing local skills and expertise in renewable energy, sending the first cohort of five Namibian engineers to SARETEC win turbine training centre in Cape Town, South Africa, for six-months' training.

“This initiative is a key milestone in Namibia’s green industrialisation agenda, positioning the country as a leader in sustainable energy production and technological innovation,” the German subsidiary said along with the announcement.

“Windwise Namibia’s workforce is engaged in producing highly complex structures that require extensive technical expertise. The training at SARETEC allows the Namibian engineers to gain hands-on experience with full-scale turbines, enabling them to master wind turbine systems under real-world conditions. Upon completion, these professionals will play a pivotal role in installing and maintaining the first turbines in Namibia, ensuring a highly skilled, locally-driven workforce in the renewable energy sector,” the announcement continues.

The development of wind turbine manufacturing in Namibia aligns closely with the country’s Green Industrialisation Blueprint, which identifies wind turbine production as a strategic, investable industry, according to Windwise. By establishing a local wind turbine manufacturing sector, Windwise intends to enhance Namibia’s industrial capabilities and nurture the integration of renewable energy solutions into key sectors such as hydrogen production, desalination and off-grid electrification, it said.



Independent

Windwise Namibia is an independent company equipped with 100% German technology from its sister company, Windwise GmbH, the statement said. “The company will manufacture wind turbines with rotor diameters ranging from 141m to 175m, designed explicitly for stable power generation with high-capacity factors. These turbines are engineered to reduce power fluctuations, enabling seamless integration into Namibia’s energy grid and supporting applications such as off-grid desalination and rural electrification. Windwise Namibia’s investment in workforce training and local manufacturing is a powerful testament to how Namibia’s green industrialisation blueprint translates into real economic opportunities,” says the company.

In an interview (youtube.com/watch?v=ASY1Z8Zuf58) in September last year, managing director Florian Schubert elaborated on how he was approaching in 2021 by Lucia Radovanovic and Namibian ambassador to Germany, Martin Andjaba, to bring his passion for wind energy to bear locally.

Today the Namibian company he helped found boasts 51% local ownership and big plans to transform local energy generation and the prospects of Stampriet’s impoverished inhabitants.

Initially Windwise will assemble wind turbine in Namibia, but the plan to eventually to manufacture the complicated technology locally. “Once we reach certain volumes we will ask our suppliers to come here to Namibia. That would mean an array of manufacturing plants,” Schubert explained.



First step

Schubert describes local wind turbine assembly and eventual production as a, “first step towards green hydrogen production and also towards power autonomy for Namibia”.

The turbines that Windwise aims to make commonplace here feature extra long blades and are designed for consistent power generation, to provide base-load generation instead of as much power as possible. “We want to feed into the grid like a power station,” Schubert explained.

Windwise intends to start producing complete wind turbines in Stampriet as early as 2026, provided building permits and other paperwork can be finalised expeditiously. “Possibly, we could install our first wind farm in Namibia by next year. The plan is to bring ten turbines and to use one of them in the training centre (in Stampriet). Hopefully we can start manufacturing on site in 2027. The plan is to give Namibia an industrialised future,” he said.

However, Schubert says manufacturing and even installation of wind turbine locally is not the difficult part. “The difficult part is to keep it running. Clients want the turbines able to generate power 96% to 98% of the time. If there is interruption we want it back in operation as soon as possible,” he said. That is why training is essential as all employees of Windwise Turbines Namibia will have to understand the technology from top to bottom, he stressed. “It would mean more jobs for Namibians than in solar, and in a whole array of disciplines,” he added.

“Namibia can really show the world what is possible with green energy, by producing base-load with renewable energy,” he said.

The first Namibians being equipped with the knowledge and skills to make that happen are Tuyakula Shivute (Bachelor of Science: Electrical Engineering [Honours]), Otilie Nalukaku (Master of Science in Electrical Engineering), Wilhelm Immanuel (Bachelor of Engineering: Electrical Power Engineering), Fatuna Mnubi (Bachelor of Engineering: Electrical Power Engineering) and Triovic Shaduka (Bachelor of Engineering: Electrical Power Engineering).