Solar power generation plant at Mariental

• LORATO KHOBETSINAMPOWER and Greenam Energy recently celebrated the commencement of construction of a 10MW solar PV power plant at Mariental.

The project is the first private power-purchase agreement (PPA) for solar power in the country and is owned by Manna Renewables and local company Beta Energy.

The project is expected to be completed by September this year. It is one of the first independent power producers (IPPs) to be granted a conditional licence by the Electricity Control Board. One of the conditions of the IPPs is for Greenam Energy to negotiate and conclude a power-purchase agreement with national power utility NamPower.

According to Daniel Palm of Manna Renewables, the project will produce electricity and feed it into the national grid, with NamPower paying for the energy.

“The project will last for 25 years, and the electricity will be sold to NamPower. The project will generate enough electricity to power 100 000 homes. Mana Renewable has four projects in Namibia, translating to 40 MWs,” he explained.

Manna Renewables is also constructing another project at Kokerboom.

Both projects are expected to create about 200 temporary employment opportunities each for locals throughout the construction phases, and 20 permanent employment opportunities upon completion of the plants.

Speaking at the event, NamPower managing director Simson Haulofu said Namibia needs a sufficient supply of electricity to fulfil its development goals, and to address the situation, NamPower planned various projects in line with the national integrated resource plan.

“Part of these plans to increase electricity supply in the county are agreements that NamPower signed with 17 IPPs for the supply of 171MW of renewable energy. The 17 IPPs will invest a combined total of N$4,2 billion in the electricity supply industry, and ultimately in the Namibian economy in the next 24 months,” he said.

According to Haulofu, nine IPPs are already operational, amounting to N$1,1 billion in investments, while four other IPPs with a combined capacity of 101MW are at different stages of construction, including the Greenam PV plant.

“Alternative sources of electricity such as solar, wind, invader bush, biomass and biogas will play an essential role in meeting Namibia’s current and future electricity needs.

“In 2017, Cabinet approved the renewable energy policy for the promotion and target setting of renewable energy sources,” he added.

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