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.

Does Namibia have a solar market?

Namibia’s solar market is booming with the country attracting fresh investments and new players. With a focus on both grid-connected and off-grid projects, the country aims to connect 80% of its population to renewables by 2025.

How much solar power will Namibia and Botswana generate?

The plant, which occupies 40 hectares, is designed to supply 67.8 GWh of clean energy annually. Finally, Namibia and Botswana are in the comprehensive Regional Market Study phase of the Mega Solar initiative. The project aims to generate 300-500 MW of solar power in Namibia and Botswana.

What is Namibia's First Solar power plant?

Namibia’s first solar power plant was inaugurated in 2015 through the REFiT system. InnoSun Energy Holdings opened the Omburu Solar PV Park in May with an installed capacity of 4.5 MW, generating 13,500,000 kWh a year. The Park covers 40 hectares and contains more than 33,000 panels.

Is Namibia a good country for solar irradiation?

Namibia is especially well positioned for solar sources of renewable energy. The country sees almost 300 sunny days and over 3 000 hours of sun per year. As a result, our annual solar irradiation reaches values from 2 200 to 2 400 kWh/m2.

How much solar irradiation does Namibia produce a year?

As a result, our annual solar irradiation reaches values from 2 200 to 2 400 kWh/m2. To put this into perspective, the amount of sunlight received by only one square metre of Namibian land over a year holds the energy equivalent to powering a significant portion—around 20-24%—of a typical household’s annual energy needs.