Namibia ‘can lead way on energy options

NAMIBIANS could save nearly a quarter of the total electricity they use if households change to solar water heaters and energy efficient light bulbs, a local engineer has suggested.

Speaking at a discussion on the role of renewable energies in Namibia, Conrad Roedern said if all electrical water geysers were replaced by solar water heaters, the country could save 75 megawatt (MW). “If households would replace their existing light bulbs with energy-efficient ones, another 25 MW could be saved, totalling 95 MW,” Roedern said.Namibia’s installed electricity capacity is 384 megawatt.A recent study completed by the Namibia Renewable Energies Programme (NamRep) said solar water-heating systems could help home owners save considerably on their municipal bills and reduce Namibia’s electricity imports.This could be achieved to a large extent if at least 37 000 home owners changed to water geysers heated by solar panels, the study recommends.The study proposes that the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) could possibly specify the installation of these geysers in new houses constructed through its affordable housing programme for low-income groups to achieve the 37 000 target.The Ministry of Mines and Energy started the NamRep programme last year, supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP).The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is funding the five-year project.The GEF was established by donor governments in 1991 to help developing countries contribute to protect the global environment through various programmes.At the discussion, which was organised by the Hanns Seidel Foundation on Tuesday, Roedern, who is an expert in solar and wind energy, also proposed that farmers could harvest the invader bush on their farms and establish small wood-fired power plants.They could feed the excess electricity generated in this way into the national electricity grid.”This will serve a twofold purpose – bush encroachment will be reduced and some 25 megawatt of electricity could be generated if 500 farmers would feed 50 kilovolt of electricity from their farms into the grid,” Roedern said.”It would also provide employment opportunities,” he added.”Namibia actually needs 6 500 hectares covered by solar panels to satisfy all its electricity demands – it is the size of one farm,” Roedern said in conclusion.Heinrich Steuber, who promotes renewable energy sources in Namibia, said the country could become a leader in the use of renewable energies in Africa.Namibia imports about half of its electricity demand – 200 MW – from South Africa, which has said it will run out of surplus supply capacity by 2007.NamPower now intends to set up a coal-fired power station near Walvis Bay on the coast as an interim measure.”We will call for expression of interest for a feasibility study on this project in about ten days,” NamPower Managing Director Paulinus Shilamba told The Namibian this week.”If households would replace their existing light bulbs with energy-efficient ones, another 25 MW could be saved, totalling 95 MW,” Roedern said.Namibia’s installed electricity capacity is 384 megawatt.A recent study completed by the Namibia Renewable Energies Programme (NamRep) said solar water-heating systems could help home owners save considerably on their municipal bills and reduce Namibia’s electricity imports.This could be achieved to a large extent if at least 37 000 home owners changed to water geysers heated by solar panels, the study recommends.The study proposes that the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) could possibly specify the installation of these geysers in new houses constructed through its affordable housing programme for low-income groups to achieve the 37 000 target.The Ministry of Mines and Energy started the NamRep programme last year, supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP).The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is funding the five-year project.The GEF was established by donor governments in 1991 to help developing countries contribute to protect the global environment through various programmes.At the discussion, which was organised by the Hanns Seidel Foundation on Tuesday, Roedern, who is an expert in solar and wind energy, also proposed that farmers could harvest the invader bush on their farms and establish small wood-fired power plants.They could feed the excess electricity generated in this way into the national electricity grid.”This will serve a twofold purpose – bush encroachment will be reduced and some 25 megawatt of electricity could be generated if 500 farmers would feed 50 kilovolt of electricity from their farms into the grid,” Roedern said.”It would also provide employment opportunities,” he added.”Namibia actually needs 6 500 hectares covered by solar panels to satisfy all its electricity demands – it is the size of one farm,” Roedern said in conclusion.Heinrich Steuber, who promotes renewable energy sources in Namibia, said the country could become a leader in the use of renewable energies in Africa.Namibia imports about half of its electricity demand – 200 MW – from South Africa, which has said it will run out of surplus supply capacity by 2007.NamPower now intends to set up a coal-fired power station near Walvis Bay on the coast as an interim measure.”We will call for expression of interest for a feasibility study on this project in about ten days,” NamPower Managing Director Paulinus Shilamba told The Namibian this week.