Namibia has secured funding worth over two billion Namibia Dollars for the expansion of its transmission network and integration of renewable energy into its grid.
The first ever World Bank-financed energy project for Namibia, worth US$138.5 million (N$2,6 billion) was approved today.
The Transmission Expansion and Energy Storage (TEES) Project is intended to improve the reliability of the country’s transmission network and enable increased integration of renewable energy into the country’s electricity system.
The project is structured around three components, namely, development of the second Auas-Kokerboom transmission line, development of a utility scale Battery Energy Storage System facility, and technical assistance activities to support NamPower develop bankable renewable energy projects and enhance the socio-economic benefits of their projects.
The project will support the development of a systematic socio-economic framework to support job creation, skills development and female employment during design and implementation of utility-led projects.
NamPower’s Managing Director, Mr Kahenge Haulofu, welcomed the approval of the project as this serves as a major milestone in the development of the approximately 465 km line, which will run from Auas transmission station outside of Windhoek until Kokerboom transmission station near Keetmanshoop.
The Auas-Kokerboom 400kV Transmission line will be the second 400kV line between these two substations which serves to increase NamPower’s north-south transmission capacity.
The line will make use of the highly efficient 422 series of towers, utilising a compaction crossdelta conductor’s arrangement.
“This is one of the major strategic and crucial investments towards the Namibian electricity transmission network,” said Mr Haulofu.
“Once completed it will allow NamPower to maintain pace with the evolving and increasing electricity needs of the country. This transmission line will be key to unlocking increased access to Variable Renewable Energy within Namibia, as well as facilitate regional electricity trading.
“Further, our second utility scale Battery Energy Storage System will be developed and integrated in our transmission network to support the development and uptake of renewable energy plants.”
The Battery Energy Storage System which will form part of the TEES Project will be connected to the Lithops Substation in the Erongo region. The envisaged size of the BESS will be a 45MW/90MWh.
Lithops was chosen as the location for the project for two main reasons; Lithops is located near to a key load centre which mainly consists of large mines. As such the BESS can reduce inrush currents seen by the transformers when heavy mining equipment is operated.
Secondly, the area surrounding Lithops is expected to be home to upcoming Solar Photovoltaic (PV) power plants with significant capacity. With this in mind, the BESS can store any excess energy produced by these plants with minimal grid losses.
The expansion of the electricity network and lines are necessary to provide for the current and future national load requirements as the needs of an expanding Namibian population will require, including the needs of an economy that is growing.
This will include not only an increase in capacity, but also having redundant capacity within the transmission system to ensure security of supply due to unforeseen circumstances.
World Bank Country Director for Namibia, Satu Kahkonen, says “Namibia is a uniquely positioned regional leader in the transition towards a greener and more sustainable future.
“The World Bank is delighted to support Namibia’s commitment to expand domestic energy generation with renewable solutions, consistent with the country’s Second Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPPII). This project will support the NamPower to develop future renewable energy projects.”
Namibia’s National Energy Policy and the Renewable Energy Policy is targeting to achieve 85% self-sufficiency and aims to source 70% of its energy needs from renewable energy sources in future.
In the photo: Namibia’s power generation capacity is set to increase with the new investment.
