Namibia on grid solar pv system

Can Namibia's solar PV capacity be expanded?

HopSol spoke with ECP about how Namibia’s solar PV capacity can be expanded and further integrated with the national grid.

How much solar energy does Namibia generate a year?

With approx. 300 sunny days and over 3,000 sun hours per year, the annual solar irradiation reaches values of 2,200 to 2,400 kWh/m2. Due to the constantly high irradiation, PV systems in Namibia generate twice as much electricity as comparable systems in Germany on an annual average.

How much electricity does Namibia generate per kWp?

Due to the constantly high irradiation, PV systems in Namibia generate twice as much electricity as comparable systems in Germany on an annual average. A daily yield of up to >5.6 kWh can be expected per kWp of installed PV capacity. In comparison, natural conditions for wind power are limited in the region.

Does Namibia need electricity?

Namibia is heavily dependent on imports for its energy supply. All fossil fuels (coal, fuels) must be imported. Despite the small population and the low electrification rate of 56%, only about 40% of the country’s electricity needs can be met from its own generation capacities.

How many MW of Hydropower is being used in Namibia?

Of these, 347 MW are already being used from Ruacana hydro-electric power station. However, hydropower potential in Namibia is mostly theoretical, as limited water resources and regular drought make the continuous operation of hydropower plants difficult or near impossible.

What does NamPower do in the Namibian electricity market?

In the Namibian electricity market, NamPower was responsible for generation, transmission, distri-bution and the trading of electricity as well as supplying the end customer. For some years now, the Namibian government has been attempting to liberalise the market with a view to creating