Uunona inaugurates N$4.3m Solar Centre funded by Windhoek–Berlin partnership

The City of Windhoek officially inaugurated a Solar Centre facility financed by €212 750 (about N$4.3 million) grant from Germany.

The long-standing partnership between Windhoek and Berlin, which also helps households, businesses and communities transition to solar energy, also extended €2 million for renovations.

The Solar Centre is expected to connect communities, financial institutions, and technical experts, providing reliable guidance on solar solutions while supporting a more inclusive energy transition.

During the inauguration ceremony, Windhoek mayor Sakarias Uunona said the project was another tangible outcome of the partnership.

Uunona added that the municipal council approved the funding in 2025 under a project titled the establishment of a Solar Centre for Windhoek.

The centre, expected to become fully operational next month, is intended to serve as a public hub for information, advisory services and technical guidance on solar energy for residents, businesses and institutions.

Uunona said the initiative comes at a time when many residents still lack access to electricity despite continued urban growth.

“While Windhoek continues to grow and develop as a Namibian capital city, we must remain mindful of the realities facing many of our residents. A number of community members still do not have access to electricity and patiently wait for the municipality to extend power infrastructures to their homes,” Uunona said.

The inauguration was attended by Michael Biel, who described the centre as both a symbol of international cooperation and a practical step toward sustainable development.

“Today’s event is not only about opening a building, it’s about opening new possibilities for cooperation, innovation, and sustainable development,” Biel said.

He said the project stemmed from years of collaboration between the two cities, including a 2023 visit by Namibian delegates to Berlin that helped launch the initiative.

Biel also highlighted Namibia’s strong solar potential, noting that the country enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine each year.

“The sun shines here more than 300 days a year, offering a tremendous natural advantage. Namibia is therefore uniquely well-positioned to harness solar energy as a sustainable and resilient solution for its future energy supply,” he said.

According to Biel, the Solar Centre will help households understand solar systems, guide businesses exploring renewable investments, and connect communities with financial institutions and technical experts.

Low-income communities

He said the project also offers significant social benefits, particularly for residents of informal settlements and low-income communities.

“For many families living in informal settlements or vulnerable conditions, access to safe and reliable electricity can dramatically improve the quality of their lives. It can reduce reliance on unsafe and polluting energy sources, improve safety in homes, and create opportunities for education and economic activity,” Biel said.

The new facility forms part of broader efforts by the City of Windhoek to diversify energy sources, improve resilience and reduce dependence on conventional grid expansion in rapidly growing urban areas.

Biel said modern development cooperation had shifted from one-way aid to mutual partnerships.

“Development cooperation is no longer giving expertise or money from the global north to the global south because partnerships like this are never one-directional. It is a mutual learning and sharing process built on trust,” he said, adding that the project reflects evolving development cooperation.

According to Biel, the development cooperation is no longer giving expertise or money from the global north to the global south because partnerships like this are never one-directional.

"It is a mutual learning and sharing process built on trust," he said.

The centre is expected to be up and running next month.