NAMIBIA: Chinese Shandong and Zhejiang will store solar energy in Omburu

Namibia is embarking on large-scale electricity storage. State-owned Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower) recently signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for a 54 MW/54 MWh storage system with Chinese companies Shandong Electrical, Engineering & Equipment Group and Zhejiang Narada Power Source. The batteries will be installed at Omburu substation, 12km southeast of Omaruru in the Erongo region.

This locality concentrates several renewable energy plants. A little over a year ago, NamPower inaugurated a 20 MWp photovoltaic solar power plant there. According to the public company, the storage system will stabilize its network, while limiting the impact of intermittency linked to the production of solar energy. The work will last 18 months. The facility is expected to be operational in mid-2025.

This project is supported by the German Development Agency (KfW) through a grant of 20 million euros. “NamPower will commit approximately 100 million Namibian dollars (just under 5 million euros) for the construction of the transmission interconnector, technical consultancy, project management and the owner's engineer,” says the company. public.

According to him, this battery storage system will be a game-changer and transform the Namibian energy landscape. “It will change the way NamPower produces, distributes and consumes electricity ,” reinforcing the company’s vision of “moving toward a more resilient and sustainable future  .”