Alweendo inaugurates N$100m solar plant
Namibia's first privately owned independent power producer (IPP) solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, built to the tune of nearly N$100 million, has been officially inaugurated by energy minister Tom Alweendo.
The plant will supply power directly to Ohorongo Cement, without going through the national transmission grid.
Alweendo was in Otavi last week to officially inaugurate the plant, which is located next to Ohorongo Cement and will provide green and clean electricity to the cement factory.
This will contribute to a reduction of Namibia's reliance on electricity imports, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Mitigating our collective environmental impact and looking to more sustainable sources of power to ensure sufficient capacity and security of supply for the country, is a national imperative,” Alweendo said.
“Government not only remains committed to supporting renewable energy technologies, but is intent on actively introducing and proliferating the use of these technologies to complement conventional energy sources.”
Alweendo said solar projects demonstrate that one solution can have a number of benefits.
“Solar power protects the environment.
“It creates development and it promotes health and prosperity. More solar power means less pollution; and that will lead to cleaner air and healthier lives.”
Ohorongo Cement supplied the land for the power plant.
SunEQ Four Investment, an IPP and solar asset development platform, in collaboration with its Namibian partner Hungileni CC, developed, constructed and owns the solar PV plant.
The plant is equipped with about 20 000 polycrystalline silicon modules mounted on a tracking system and has an output of five megawatts.
Ohorongo Cement managing director, Hans-Wilhelm Schütte, reiterated that the energy produced by the solar PV plant will assist the country to reduce its reliance on electricity imports.
“With this, Ohorongo Cement will contribute towards Namibia's efforts to reduce imports, and assist to reduce CO² emissions from electricity generated using fossil fuels,” he added.
The plant will supply power directly to Ohorongo Cement, without going through the national transmission grid.
Alweendo was in Otavi last week to officially inaugurate the plant, which is located next to Ohorongo Cement and will provide green and clean electricity to the cement factory.
This will contribute to a reduction of Namibia's reliance on electricity imports, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Mitigating our collective environmental impact and looking to more sustainable sources of power to ensure sufficient capacity and security of supply for the country, is a national imperative,” Alweendo said.
“Government not only remains committed to supporting renewable energy technologies, but is intent on actively introducing and proliferating the use of these technologies to complement conventional energy sources.”
Alweendo said solar projects demonstrate that one solution can have a number of benefits.
“Solar power protects the environment.
“It creates development and it promotes health and prosperity. More solar power means less pollution; and that will lead to cleaner air and healthier lives.”
Ohorongo Cement supplied the land for the power plant.
SunEQ Four Investment, an IPP and solar asset development platform, in collaboration with its Namibian partner Hungileni CC, developed, constructed and owns the solar PV plant.
The plant is equipped with about 20 000 polycrystalline silicon modules mounted on a tracking system and has an output of five megawatts.
Ohorongo Cement managing director, Hans-Wilhelm Schütte, reiterated that the energy produced by the solar PV plant will assist the country to reduce its reliance on electricity imports.
“With this, Ohorongo Cement will contribute towards Namibia's efforts to reduce imports, and assist to reduce CO² emissions from electricity generated using fossil fuels,” he added.
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