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Namibia’s potential in the field of solar energy is enormous: The country boasts around 300 days and more than 3,000 hours of sunshine each year, with annual solar irradiation of 1,600 to 2,100 kilowatt hours per square metre. Politically, too, the conditions are favourable. According to a new renewable energy policy drawn up by the Namibian Electricity Control Board in 2016, 70 per cent of the nation’s electricity needs should be met using renewable energy by 2030. Users of PV systems of up to five megawatts can feed into the national or local grid and receive remuneration for the electricity. Demand is also increasing among businesses for systems to provide power for their own consumption.

German technology in Namibia

deea solutions GmbH and Terrawatt Planungsgesellschaft mbH (Terrawatt Planning Company Ltd.) want to take advantage of this market opportunity. As part of the Renewable Energy Solutions Programme of the Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena) – the German Energy Agency – the German consortium has built a reference project using components from well-known German manufacturers at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Windhoek. The grid-connected, roof-mounted solar system is equipped with battery storage and meets the electricity needs of the Kleines Heim guest house. Most of the electricity generated from solar energy is consumed there. The surplus is stored or fed into the grid. In the event of a grid blackout, the system operates as a microgrid.

The aim: needs-based system solutions

The dena RES Project Namibia was inaugurated on 25 October 2016. Among those attending the ceremony were the Vice Chancellor of the Namibia University of Science and Technology, Prof. Tjama Tjivikua, and the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Christian Matthias Schlaga. The pilot project is also designed to gather important information about regional power failures in the grid, in order to offer system solutions specifically geared to the Namibian market in the future.

About the German project partners

deea solutions GmbH (deea) is an engineering and consultancy firm working internationally in the fields of renewable
energy and energy efficiency. With its versatile and experienced team, including experts with a background in both
industry and engineering, deea combines international consultancy skills with practical experience in installing
renewable energy systems.

For 20 years, Terrawatt Planungsgesellschaft mbH has planned, implemented and managed projects involving
renewable energy sources: wind farms, solar power plants or individually combined solutions. Based on its own
projects, the company provides the most wide-ranging consulting and engineering services in the world. Its expertise
covers all essential areas related to renewable energy.

System Data