Namibia has an abundance of renewable energy resources, but harnessing these is the challenge, according to Amusha Consultancy Services' Harald Schütt.
With Namibia’s energy position in its current critical state, and inflation further eroding citizens’ spending power by the year, the debate on whether to increase the country’s reliance on renewable energy is at a crucial stage.
This was said by energy specialist Harald Schütt yesterday, in addressing the latest monthly “innovation circle” organised in collaboration between the Southern Africa Innovation Support (SAIS) programme and the Namibia Business Innovation Centre (NBIC).
Yesterday’s presentation by Schütt focused on the economic implications of a possible move from Namibia’s current grid-focused energy policy to one that more freely embraces the country’s abundant renewable energy sources, including wind, solar and biomass.
“NamPower inherited infrastructure originally meant to service but 5% of the general population. That they have managed to keep the lights on thus far is a remarkable feat,” Schütt told his audience.
Noting that about 33% of Namibia’s population is currently connected to the national grid, he said pushing for greater connectivity is next to futile.
“Those who have the cash and the collateral are leaving the grid. At present, it is estimated that between four and five MegaWatts [in renewable energy] is being installed annually. In order for NamPower to keep this ‘dinosaur’ of a central grid going, they have to double their rates,” he said.
Another argument for renewable energy, he said, is its reliability compared to the country’s current 60% (80% in dry seasons) reliance on unpredictable imports.
“This is not just because it’s nice to go green. We are talking dollars and cents here. The current energy crisis is a unique opportunity for renewable energy. Our renewable energy resources are here to stay. There is no negotiation required, and it would create multiple local benefits, including jobs. Imports don’t,” Schütt said. “The future of energy supply needs to take real costs and real benefits into account.”
Suggesting a seven-point plan towards realising his proposal, Schütt suggested that the government come up with a commercial and institutional energy efficiency programme which would aim for a 15% saving in electricity by 1 200 entities operating in the country.
This, he said, would supplement NamPower’s current domestic energy efficiency program, which aims to see a 20% saving among 80 000 households.
Other suggestions included establishing multiple wind farms and establishing bush-to-electricity power plants in remote areas.
NamPower had indicated previously that its main stumbling block in developing private renewable energy was in getting independent power producers (IPPs) to forfeit their demands for the utility to provide security against political risks, which it said was not in its power to do.
With Namibia’s energy position in its current critical state, and inflation further eroding citizens’ spending power by the year, the debate on whether to increase the country’s reliance on renewable energy is at a crucial stage.
This was said by energy specialist Harald Schütt yesterday, in addressing the latest monthly “innovation circle” organised in collaboration between the Southern Africa Innovation Support (SAIS) programme and the Namibia Business Innovation Centre (NBIC).
Yesterday’s presentation by Schütt focused on the economic implications of a possible move from Namibia’s current grid-focused energy policy to one that more freely embraces the country’s abundant renewable energy sources, including wind, solar and biomass.
“NamPower inherited infrastructure originally meant to service but 5% of the general population. That they have managed to keep the lights on thus far is a remarkable feat,” Schütt told his audience.
Noting that about 33% of Namibia’s population is currently connected to the national grid, he said pushing for greater connectivity is next to futile.
“Those who have the cash and the collateral are leaving the grid. At present, it is estimated that between four and five MegaWatts [in renewable energy] is being installed annually. In order for NamPower to keep this ‘dinosaur’ of a central grid going, they have to double their rates,” he said.
Another argument for renewable energy, he said, is its reliability compared to the country’s current 60% (80% in dry seasons) reliance on unpredictable imports.
“This is not just because it’s nice to go green. We are talking dollars and cents here. The current energy crisis is a unique opportunity for renewable energy. Our renewable energy resources are here to stay. There is no negotiation required, and it would create multiple local benefits, including jobs. Imports don’t,” Schütt said. “The future of energy supply needs to take real costs and real benefits into account.”
Suggesting a seven-point plan towards realising his proposal, Schütt suggested that the government come up with a commercial and institutional energy efficiency programme which would aim for a 15% saving in electricity by 1 200 entities operating in the country.
This, he said, would supplement NamPower’s current domestic energy efficiency program, which aims to see a 20% saving among 80 000 households.
Other suggestions included establishing multiple wind farms and establishing bush-to-electricity power plants in remote areas.
NamPower had indicated previously that its main stumbling block in developing private renewable energy was in getting independent power producers (IPPs) to forfeit their demands for the utility to provide security against political risks, which it said was not in its power to do.
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