NAMIBIANS GO SOLAR

Besides the other groups mentioned in the report, Namibia is one of the African nations where former President Bill Clinton's foundation is funding solar energy installations.

Namibia: Government Lights Up on Solar
Brigitte Weidlich, 3 August 2007 (The Namibian via AllAfrica)

WHO
Namibian Mines and Energy Minister Erkki Nghimtina; Permanent Ministry Secretary Joseph Iita; UN Development Programme Namibian Renewable Energy Barrier Removal (Namrep), Chief Technical Advisor Shimweefeleni Hamutwe

click to enlarge)

WHAT
- The Namibian government will transition all official buildings to solar-powered water heaters to reduce grid electricity consumption. A rural solar-powered off-grid electrification plan will also be implemented.
- Phase Two of Namibian Renewable Energy Barrier Removal (Namrep) was launched.

WHEN
- Decisions taken in June 2007. Announcement August 2.
- The off-grid electrification is a 20-year plan.
- Namrep started in 2004. Phase Two will run another 3 years.

WHERE
Solar water heaters to be manufactured in Namibia.

WHY
- Cost of 20-year rural solar project: “N$136,7 million”
- Namrep will put N$70 million into Namibian renewable energy programs over 3 years: development of wind and solar projects, training of technicians, loan programs.
- 2/3 of Namibian population do not have electricity (230,000 households).
- 97,000 electric water heaters in Namibia use 23% of the country’s electricity (106 megawatts). The solar water heaters save those megawatts and N$100 million.

It doesn't look like intermittency is going to be much of a problem. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Nghimtina: "These decisions need multi-sectoral ownership and cannot be the Ministry's baby alone…"
- Joseph Iita: "The off-grid energy master plan approved by Cabinet.
will improve access to modern and clean energy services to remote and rural areas…"
Hamutwe: "This translates into approximately N$100 million spent on electricity just to heat water…"