Introduction
In developing countries like Namibia, power supply is a key issue. Namibia’s local electrical supply has failed to keep pace with its expanding energy demands since it only generates less than half of the energy it consumes, according to ITA (2020). The current peak energy demand exceeds 600 MW, and Namibia has relied on imported power from Eskom, a South African firm. The Ruacana Hydroelectric Power Station (330MW capacity), the ANIXAS Power Station (diesel; 22.5 MW capacity), the Paratus Power Station (diesel; 24 MW capacity), and the Van Eck Power Station (coal; 120 MW capacity) are all operated by NamPower (Ministry of Mines and Energy, 2016). Three of these facilities use fossil fuels, which are predicted to have a remaining time of less than 60 years for oil and gas (Knoema, 2018) and 200 years for coal imported from South Africa (Hartnady, 2018).
Presently, Namibia and other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have the lowest supply of electricity in the world (Streatfeild, 2018). Namibia imports large quantities of oil and biofuels to support the electricity sector; however, it significantly hinders the country’s economy (Hoeck et al., 2021; Munyoro & Shaningwa, 2018). Thus, one of the potentially effective methods to improve the electricity sector is the implementation of solar power sources (Hoffmann & Dall, 2018).
Furthermore, Namibia has the second-highest solar irradiation levels in the world, making solar grid systems an attractive investment (Hoeck et al., 2021). Nevertheless, there are barriers to the implementation of renewable energy sources and it is essential to analyze the drawbacks of the approach (Imam et al., 2019). This investigation therefore aims at evaluating possible improvement areas in the electricity sector in Namibia and evaluating the potential of their implementation in Namibia.
Namely, potential areas of improvement include the electricity sector modernization via the solar panels and mitigation of the renewable energy sources’ implementation barriers. In recent years, extensive academic attention has been focused on solar panel implementation in urban and rural Namibia (Katanga et al., 2019). However, additional research is required to achieve a comprehensive overview of the Namibian electricity sector and the potential methods to improve it. In the scope of the current study, literature review and consequent content analysis are the primary instruments of data collection and qualitative research. The estimated findings include the general overview of advantages, disadvantages, and barriers to implementation of solar and hybrid energy sources in Namibia specifically. Thus, the expected results would reveal the problems of the existing electricity infrastructure and potential methods to improve it, utilizing renewable energy sources.
Problem Statement
Namibia’s economy vastly depends on the oil and biofuels import, hindering the development of the electricity sector. Therefore, Namibia needs to implement effective and sustainable energy solutions, such as solar panels and hybrid diesel-photovoltaic grids, to improve the country’s economy.
Objectives
General Objective
To determine whether renewable energy sources, such as on-grid solar panels and hybrid alternatives, are efficient solutions to improve the Namibian electricity sector.
Specific Objectives
- To identify the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy sources implementation in the Namibian electricity sector via extensive literature review and analysis;
- To investigate the existing barriers to solar renewable energy sources implementation in Namibia and propose preliminary solutions to the problems within the time of research.
Research Questions
- What are the potential barriers to the implementation of renewable energy sources, such as on-grid solar panels and hybrid diesel-photovoltaic grids, in Namibia?
- Is it possible to shift the Namibian electricity sector from primarily importing fossil fuel to self-sustaining via solar energy?
References
Hoeck, I., Steurer, E., Dolunay, Ö., & Ileka, H. (2021). Challenges for off-grid electrification in rural areas: Assessment of the situation in Namibia using the examples of Gam and Tsumkwe. Energy, Ecology and Environment, 1-15.
Hoffmann, J. E., & Dall, E. P. (2018). Integrating desalination with concentrating solar thermal power: A Namibian case study. Renewable energy, 115, 423-432.
Imam, M. I., Jamasb, T., & Llorca, M. (2019). Sector reforms and institutional corruption: Evidence from electricity industry in Sub-Saharan Africa. Energy Policy, 129, 532-545.
ITA. (2020). Namibia – Energy. Web.
Katanga, L., Shilongo, E., Shafudah, N. H., & Singh, S. (2019). A study on cost analysis and implementation of solar power systems for rural development in Namibia: Case study – Onause village, Oshana region in northern Namibia. International Scientific Technology Journal Namibia, 13, 52-59.
Ministry of Mines and Energy. (2016). National Renewable Energy Policy for the Republic of Namibia. Energy Policy for the Republic of Namibia, (September)
Munyoro, G., & Shaningwa, A. N. (2019). The significance of working capital management in enhancing liquidity and profitability in the electricity distribution sector in Namibia: A case of study of Central Northern Electricity Distribution Company (CENORED)(Pty) Ltd. International Journal of Research in Business, Economics and Management, 3(1), 50-74
Streatfeild, J. E. (2018). Low electricity supply in Sub-Saharan Africa: Causes, implications, and remedies. Journal of International Commerce and Economics, 1, 1-16.