The Electricity Control Board (ECB) has issued generation and export licences to Schonau Solar Energy for its 125MW solar PV Plant being developed by renewable energy company Emesco, at a cost of N$1.8 billion.
The Plant, located at the Karasburg town in Namibia, will generate electricity for 25 years and export its power via South Africa into the Southern African Power Pool’s (SAPP) competitive electricity markets.
Emesco’s registration of Schonau Solar Energy as a market participant on SAPP will make it the first independent solar power producer to contribute to the SAPP grid under ECB’s Modified Single Buyer (MSB) Framework.
NamPower, Namibia’s national power utility, together with Schonau Solar Energy as Market Participant on SAPP will coordinate the export and trade of electricity on the SAPP competitive market.
“The Schonau project is a major step towards Namibia becoming a net exporter of energy through harnessing its abundant solar resource. The project will add to a diversified energy mix, reduced costs, and decarbonisation in the Southern African Power Pool. Emesco is developing its pipeline of similar-sized projects to provide renewable energy to support the green hydrogen initiative in Namibia and further expansion in the SAPP region,” Emesco Commercial Director Pieter Rossouw said.
“Emesco has developed a significant pipeline of projects that includes solar, wind and storage technologies to be rolled out in Namibia with further expansion into the SADC region planned in the near future.”
General Manager for Economic Regulation at ECB Pinehas Mutota said the licensing by the regulator will contribute to the government’s objectives for the country to become an energy exporter. “The ECB is pleased that the Modified Single Buyer Model has gained momentum, it is our belief that the MSB will contribute to the Government’s objectives for Namibia to become an energy exporter. The issuing of the Generation and Export licences to Schonau and other players is an indication and commitment by the Namibian Government to assist in reducing the power deficit in the region,” he said.
SAPP operates four competitive electricity markets between twelve member countries and has facilitated trade between utilities in southern Africa since 1995. The operating member countries include Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi and DRC. The member countries are primarily represented by their national power utilities.
