Namibia: Lighting the Way Through SA’s Load Shedding Shadows

As the sun bathes Namibia in golden light, the flickering shadows of South Africa’s ‘load shedding’ crisis cast a long, ominous reach.

As darkness descends on our neighbour, a stark question hangs heavily in the air: Can Namibia learn from this crippling energy deficit and avoid a similar fate? The answer lies in embracing a future fuelled by innovation, foresight, and a dash of artificial intelligence.

Firstly, Namibia boasts a fundamental advantage over South Africa – an abundance of sunshine and wind.

We can leapfrog the coal-choked path and embrace renewable energy.

Imagine vast solar farms soaking up the sun’s rays, powering our cities with clean, dependable energy, mirroring projects like the 100 MW solar plant currently under construction (IJ Global, 2023).

Wind turbines can harness the desert’s invisible rivers of air, generating power that hums in harmony with nature, emulating Namibia’s existing wind farm that boosts generation by 11% (afrik21.africa, 2023).

However, simply having the resources is not enough. We need the intelligence to manage them effectively.

HARNESSING AI

This is where AI steps in, its algorithms becoming the sorcerers of our energy grid.

As the International Energy Agency (IEA) highlights, AI can predict spikes in demand with remarkable accuracy, directing energy reserves like a wise general marshalling his troops.

It can analyse weather patterns, anticipating when the wind drops or the clouds gather, ensuring seamless transitions to alternative energy sources, similar to projects like GridBeyond’s AI-powered optimization in Ireland.

However, even the most brilliant AI is only as good as the infrastructure it operates on.

Namibia’s ageing grid, a relic of a bygone era, is groaning under the strain of modern needs.

We must invest in its modernisation, building smart grids that seamlessly integrate renewables and traditional sources, as advocated by Namibia’s ministry of mines and energy’s National Integrated Resource Plan.

Energy storage solutions, like rechargeable batteries, become the knights guarding our power supply, ready to step in when the sun dips below the horizon.

Finally, navigating the path towards energy independence requires transparency and collaboration.

We need open data, accessible to all stakeholders, allowing informed decision-making and public participation, echoing the approach championed by organisations like Renewable Energy Namibia.

BUILDING TRUST

This is not just about infrastructure; it’s about building trust and fostering a collective commitment to a brighter future, as emphasised by the World Economic Forum in their report on AI and the grid.

South Africa’s struggle is a stark reminder of the fragility of our energy systems. But it’s also a catalyst for change.

Namibia, with its sun-drenched plains and windswept horizons, has the opportunity to write a different story.

Let us learn from the darkness, embrace the power of innovation, and illuminate a path towards a sustainable, energy-independent future.

The choice is ours – will we follow South Africa’s flickering light, or forge our own path, bathed in the eternal glow of renewable energy?

• Taapopi John Angula is a digitalisation advisor, GIZ South Africa.