Namibia: Nation Switches On to Solar Power

The huge increases in electricity tariffs and soaring fuel prices experienced recently are causing many Namibians to rethink their energy needs and where to cut costs in order to save money as southern Africa is also experiencing a power crunch due to increased demand for electricity against dwindling supply capacity.

Namibia has one of the best solar regimes in the world with some 3 300 hours of sunshine per year.
This gives it a potential average annual solar radiation value exceeding six kilowatt hours per square metre per day.

The challenge is to tap this potential to provide efficient energy supply from the sun at lower cost.

It would create an industry for solar energy technologies resulting in employment creation.

Yet high import costs and tariffs for solar panels and other energy-efficient equipment and appliances have put a dampener on this niche sector.

AllAfrica