Namibia has achieved a significant milestone in its quest for energy independence and sustainability with the securing of more than two billion Namibian dollars (approximately 110 million U.S. dollars) from the World Bank. The funding is earmarked for a transformative Transmission Expansion and Energy Storage (TEES) Project, aimed at bolstering the country’s transmission network and integrating renewable energy sources.
Announced by Namibia’s national power utility, NamPower, the TEES Project encompasses the development of a 465-kilometer transmission line and the establishment of a utility-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility. Additionally, technical assistance will be provided to support the implementation of renewable energy projects across the country.
Managing Director of NamPower, Kahenge Haulofu, expressed his satisfaction with the approval of the project, emphasizing its significance in advancing Namibia’s energy infrastructure. The transmission line, spanning from the Auas Transmission Station near Windhoek to the Kokerboom Transmission Station close to Keetmanshoop, will notably enhance NamPower’s north-south transmission capacity.
Satu Kahkonen, World Bank Country Director for Namibia, commended the country’s commitment to renewable energy expansion, noting that the TEES Project aligns with NamPower’s vision for future renewable energy initiatives. A key component of the project involves the integration of a 45MW/90MWh Battery Energy Storage System at the Lithops Substation in the Erongo region. This system aims to store excess energy generated from upcoming Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants, thereby minimizing grid losses.
Namibia’s renewable energy capacity currently stands at just over 30 percent of total generation. The TEES Project is in line with the country’s National Energy Policy and Renewable Energy Policy, which aspire to achieve 85 percent self-sufficiency and source 70 percent of energy needs from renewable sources in the future.
This ambitious project underscores Namibia’s commitment to sustainable energy development and positions the country as a regional leader in renewable energy integration. With the support of the World Bank and strategic investments in infrastructure, Namibia is poised to harness its abundant renewable resources for economic growth and environmental preservation.
