Renewable energy project solutions company Harmattan Renewables is involved in the Mariental and Greenam solar PV plants, providing due diligence services, and is currently Lenders’ Technical Adviser on the Rosh Pinah 5 MW solar plant, demonstrating its ability to capitalise on Namibia’s rapidly emerging renewable-energy market.

The company seeks to leverage its experience to capitalise on Namibia’s renewable-energy sector’s potential – particularly in the solar energy space, as it is the most abundant renewable resource – helping to cement the future of energy and electricity generation in Namibia in the long term. This, in addition to offering complementary support to the wind energy sector.

“The country receives 2 200 kWh/m² a year to 3 000 kWh/m² a year, which is among the world's highest solar irradiation levels, with up to 2 700 full load hours a year and over ten hours of strong sunlight daily. This allows PV installations to generate about twice the output of comparable systems in Central Europe,” says Harmattan Renewables MD Chanda Nxumalo.

She adds that the company is sharing a portfolio of PV projects to Owner Engineers on early-stage developer initiatives.

“The economic benefits are substantial and wide-ranging. Renewable power bids in recent auctions came in at 65% to 80% below existing mine electricity tariffs, dramatically reducing operating costs for Namibia's mining sector. Solar PV projects will also help to reduce the country's 70% reliance on imported power, keeping energy spending within the national economy and stabilising electricity prices,” says Nxumalo.

She adds that the World Bank has invested about $138.5-million into transmission and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in Namibia.

Further, as the market matures, remote Namibian communities will be afforded increased access to off-grid solar installations, thereby improving their quality of life and enhancing business development.

Innovations and Projects

There are significant developments that illustrate the core plan for the future of electricity and power generation for Namibia’s consumers, says Nxumalo.

These include Namibia State-owned power utility NamPower’s 54 MWh Omburu BESS, which Nxumalo says represents critical infrastructure for managing variable renewable generation through peak-shifting, energy arbitrage and voltage support.  

The HyIron Oshivela project showcases Africa's first zero-emissions iron production facility, integrating a 25 MW solar array of 44 000 panels with a 13.4 MW battery system, and Southern Africa's largest 12 MW electrolyser.

This “sophisticated and smart microgrid” project will help the owner replace traditional coal or natural gas with green hydrogen as a clean reducing agent for iron production.

“Additional innovations include Cleanergy Solutions' construction of Africa's first public hydrogen refueling station with a 5-MW electrolyser and 5-MW/h battery storage, and the planned $9.4-billion Hyphen project designed to produce 300 000 t/y of green hydrogen,” she says.

Future Considerations

Going forward, Nxumalo believes that it is important for increased financing and investment to flow into Namibia’s renewable-energy sector, particularly for solar energy developments.

She also notes that integrated planning, socioeconomic impact, governance and infrastructure such as water resources, are all important considerations that ought to be prioritised in the development of the solar and renewable-energy sector, as this would enhance the country’s position and assist its efforts in becoming a leading global clean energy player.

“Namibia is increasingly viewed as a potential blueprint for energy-driven development in Africa, distinguished by exceptional natural resources, and proactive policy frameworks like early wheeling adoption, and an integrated development vision using renewable energy as a catalyst for economic transformation,” she notes.

Projects like Hyphen and HyIron potentially position Namibia among the top five global green hydrogen producers by 2040, which is “remarkable for a country of its size”, she concludes.