When completed in June 2016, the 5 megawatt (MW) facility will be Namibia’s largest grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and is expected to account for approximately one percent of the country’s total generation capacity.
The utility-scale project is being developed by HopSol Africa, a subsidiary of the Zurich-headquartered company. Powered by over 52,000 First Solar modules, the power plant will supply almost 14,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity per year to the state-owned utility company, NamPower.
“Our decision to select First Solar’s thin film modules was primarily driven by the operating conditions in the area. We needed a reliable module technology that would thrive in the hot temperatures that are common in the summer months and also deliver energy in cloudy, low-light conditions," said Dr Robert Hopperdietzel, chairman of HopSol AG.
"In fact, by our estimates, thin film modules deliver up to 10% more energy in Namibia than conventional silicon PV panels. First Solar has a proven track record in delivering an energy yield advantage in challenging environmental conditions and there is no doubt that its thin film modules are the right choice for Southern Africa.”
The facility will utilise single-axis tracking technology to maximise energy yield by up to 25% and will generate enough energy to power approximately 3,700 average households in Namibia. The country has a total generation capacity of approximately 430MW and imports over half of its power from the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).
By generating clean energy from sunlight, the project will displace the need for the equivalent of 300,000 litres of gasoline per year - sufficient for a car to drive the 1,691km length of the Namibia’s B1 highway, over 3,400 times.
Significantly, the project will displace an estimated 19,000 metric tons of water per year since PV solar requires no water for power generation and, on a life-cycle basis, consumes less water than most other conventional and renewable generation technologies in the production process.
With the smallest carbon footprint, lowest life cycle water use, and fastest energy payback time in the industry, First Solar’s thin film PV modules provide a sustainable solution to climate change, water scarcity, and energy security.
“The Otjozondjupa Solar Park exemplifies Namibia’s ambitions of energy security and demonstrates the role that cost competitive solar can play in an independent power production ecosystem,” said Nasim Khan, vice-president for Africa at First Solar.
“As Namibia continues to shore up its generation capacity by adding renewables to its portfolio, HopSol’s project will, no doubt, stand out as a singular example of the sustainable development of solar energy in the country.”
