NamPower okays wind energy as option

ELECTRICITY generated from wind power is seen as a possible option for Namibia and NamPower has asked investors to submit proposals for a joint venture to set up a wind park to generate 40 megawatt (MW) of electricity.

For many years NamPower regarded the generation of electricity at the coast – where the wind speed is the highest – as too expensive, but now it is seen as a feasible option. “Currently the power supply situation has changed.Wind energy appears to have become an attractive investment,” the power utility said in its request for expression of interest published on its website.”There has been a lot of interest shown recently,” NamPower’s manager for energy trading, Werner Graupe, said yesterday, “so we want to have a transparent process and select the best joint venture partner for this project.”Bids can be made online when registering on the website.NamPower will be involved in all stages including the planning, design, construction and operation of the 40 MW project, which will be erected at the coast, although no particular site has been chosen.One of the coastal towns, Luederitz, has great potential for a wind farm, but other potential locations will also be investigated.In 1996 the Ministry of Mines and Energy installed wind measurement stations in Walvis Bay and Luederitz, with technical support from the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ).In 1998 a feasibility study was launched by GTZ through the Ministry of Mines and Energy for wind parks at the two towns.After that study NamPower took interest in the development of a wind farm.NamPower conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) at Grosse Bucht in the area of Luederitz in 2001.Due to the lack of construction plans for the wind park the study was based on generalised construction requirements for a wind park.The deadline for the expression of interest is February 23.Last week, a Dutch investor applied for a power generation licence from the Electricity Control Board, saying he intends to construct a 90 MW wind power plant at the coast.His Namibian partner, Martin Heita, said the possibility to develop it as a joint venture with NamPower was a possibility.”We are open to such an option,” he told The Namibian at the end of last week.”Currently the power supply situation has changed.Wind energy appears to have become an attractive investment,” the power utility said in its request for expression of interest published on its website.”There has been a lot of interest shown recently,” NamPower’s manager for energy trading, Werner Graupe, said yesterday, “so we want to have a transparent process and select the best joint venture partner for this project.”Bids can be made online when registering on the website.NamPower will be involved in all stages including the planning, design, construction and operation of the 40 MW project, which will be erected at the coast, although no particular site has been chosen.One of the coastal towns, Luederitz, has great potential for a wind farm, but other potential locations will also be investigated.In 1996 the Ministry of Mines and Energy installed wind measurement stations in Walvis Bay and Luederitz, with technical support from the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ).In 1998 a feasibility study was launched by GTZ through the Ministry of Mines and Energy for wind parks at the two towns.After that study NamPower took interest in the development of a wind farm.NamPower conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) at Grosse Bucht in the area of Luederitz in 2001.Due to the lack of construction plans for the wind park the study was based on generalised construction requirements for a wind park.The deadline for the expression of interest is February 23.Last week, a Dutch investor applied for a power generation licence from the Electricity Control Board, saying he intends to construct a 90 MW wind power plant at the coast.His Namibian partner, Martin Heita, said the possibility to develop it as a joint venture with NamPower was a possibility.”We are open to such an option,” he told The Namibian at the end of last week.