| Project Detail |
PROJECT DESCRIPTION Hardap is a 37 MW photovoltaic power plant located near the city of Mariental in the Hardap region. It was created following a bid invitation won by the Spanish developer Alten. It is the first large-scale solar power plant in Namibia, as the current solar power plants have a unit capacity of 5 MW. It aims to reduce the country’s deficit in its power generation capacity. PROJECT IMPACT While Namibia’s production is currently mainly based on the Ruacana hydropower plant, this photovoltaic solar power plant, a source of low-carbon electricity, will allow the country to structure a solar industry and improve its energy independence (contribution to SDG 13). The project, which should produce 8.5% of national electricity production, will thereby bring about a reduction in electricity imports (68% in 2016), while improving the reliability of the power system. It will be possible to redirect the substantial savings made by reducing imports to new infrastructure to further improve Namibia’s energy security and independence. In addition, this project should reduce annual CO2 emissions by 9,400 tons (235,000 t CO2 over the 25 years of the life of the project). It will also theoretically provide over 76,000 people with access to a low-carbon source of electricity. The project will also have major social and economic impacts by helping create or maintain 1,260 jobs (indirect, induced or secondary) during the life of the project. Finally, the project company will pay part of the revenues into a fund destined to set up social programs in the region. |
