Govt to invest in renewable energy

THE Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) plans to spend an average of N$9 million a year over the next 15 years (N$135 million) to accelerate its drive to promote the use of renewable energy sources – such as solar power in remote areas and places not yet connected to the existing electricity grid.

Experts met in Windhoek yesterday to discuss the implementation of a newly drafted strategic action plan for renewable energy policies based on the White Paper on Energy of 1998. This strategy as well as a master plan will involve the provision of access to alternative power supply for the estimated 96 560 households without electricity.The MME said five million dollars will be spent on the Off-Grid Master Plan each year until 2020, while N$2,5 million a year will go to a revolving fund from which citizens can borrow money to acquire solar home systems and solar water heaters.”This will increase off-grid electrification considerably.Persons taking out a loan would have 10 years to pay them back at an affordable rate of N$120 a month for a basic off-grid energy system, usually two solar panels, a battery, electric lights and even a small wood efficient stove to reduce degradation of the environment,” said Robert Schultz, one of the consultants.”A large percentage of households typically have a low income and would find it difficult to afford an expensive solar home system,” said Martin Heita, a consultant; “an instalment payment system would be necessary”.The MME will allocate N$1 million each year to the Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Institute (REEEI) which is housed at the Polytechnic.It was inaugurated last week as part of the implementation phase of the alternative energy supply strategy and it will receive an initial funding of N$2,8 million.Guidelines for electricity and energy efficient buildings will be drawn up while the establishment of small and medium enterprises for charcoal and briquette production and for the manufacturing of solar water heaters form part of the master plan.Some 180 “energy shops” will be set up countrywide over the next 20 years at the rate of nine shops per year.They will stock and sell solar panels, solar batteries, light bulbs and solar and wood efficient stoves and provide technical information on the various off-grid energy solutions to customers.They will also receive customers’ payment instalments for the revolving fund loans and assist them to engage the services of properly trained and certified solar technicians.The consultants who drew up the new strategies, further recommend that a consulting firm should co-ordinate and manage their implementation.This strategy as well as a master plan will involve the provision of access to alternative power supply for the estimated 96 560 households without electricity.The MME said five million dollars will be spent on the Off-Grid Master Plan each year until 2020, while N$2,5 million a year will go to a revolving fund from which citizens can borrow money to acquire solar home systems and solar water heaters.”This will increase off-grid electrification considerably.Persons taking out a loan would have 10 years to pay them back at an affordable rate of N$120 a month for a basic off-grid energy system, usually two solar panels, a battery, electric lights and even a small wood efficient stove to reduce degradation of the environment,” said Robert Schultz, one of the consultants.”A large percentage of households typically have a low income and would find it difficult to afford an expensive solar home system,” said Martin Heita, a consultant; “an instalment payment system would be necessary”.The MME will allocate N$1 million each year to the Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Institute (REEEI) which is housed at the Polytechnic.It was inaugurated last week as part of the implementation phase of the alternative energy supply strategy and it will receive an initial funding of N$2,8 million.Guidelines for electricity and energy efficient buildings will be drawn up while the establishment of small and medium enterprises for charcoal and briquette production and for the manufacturing of solar water heaters form part of the master plan.Some 180 “energy shops” will be set up countrywide over the next 20 years at the rate of nine shops per year.They will stock and sell solar panels, solar batteries, light bulbs and solar and wood efficient stoves and provide technical information on the various off-grid energy solutions to customers.They will also receive customers’ payment instalments for the revolving fund loans and assist them to engage the services of properly trained and certified solar technicians.The consultants who drew up the new strategies, further recommend that a consulting firm should co-ordinate and manage their implementation.