- The 45.5 MW solar project commissioned by Alten Energías Renovables Africa subsidiary, Alten Africa, is the biggest so far in Namibia.
- The project is located in Mariental, a town in the southern Hardap region of the country, around 230 km from the capital city, Windhoek.
Alten Energías Renovables and their partners have been responsible for the development, construction and funding of a 45.45 MW photovoltaic power plant with a surface area of 100 Ha. The other stakeholders are state-owned power company NamPower plus private companies Mangrove, Talyeni and First Place Investment.
Crystalline silicon panels with single-axis trackers were used for the project. Finance for the project was finalise early 2018. Read more
Namibia imports 70% of its power from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Mining operations are the biggest users of power in Namibia. Their power is produced mainly from Hydro sources, 60% of generated power coming from the 332 MW Ruacana run-of-river station. Read more
Technical Characteristics of plant:
- Peak power: 45,4545 MWp
- Country: Namibia
- Municipality (Province): Hardap
- Technology: 1 axis solar trackers, Soltec 2 Vertical x 45 modules per tracker
- Modules: Chint 325 Wp
- Inverter: Gamesa Electric 2.5 MVA (50ºC), Power Blocks 2 indoor inverters
- MV transformers: 9×5 MVA (50ºC), 33 kV / 660 V / 660 V
- Distribution company: NamPower
- Start of operation: September 2018
- Other data: HV transformer: 42 MVA ONAN, 33/66 kV YNd11
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
