Solarcentury Africa and SolNam Energy Granted Licenses for 60 MWp Merchant Solar Project in Namibia

Solar Century Africa Limited (Solarcentury Africa) and SolNam Energy Pty Limited (SolNam) are delighted to announce the receipt of their updated generation license from the Electricity Control Board (ECB) for the construction of the SolNam 60 MWp solar project in southern Namibia, near Keetmanshoop. The two companies previously entered into a Joint Development Agreement in early 2023 to jointly develop the project. The project, which has secured land near the Kokerboom sub-station and obtained the necessary environmental clearance certificate from MEFT in 2022, is now targeting financial closure in 2024.

Both Solarcentury Africa and SolNam are committed to developing various renewable energy assets in Southern Africa to address the region’s current power deficit. The project aligns with Namibia’s climate change targets and its commitment to transitioning away from fossil fuels, as outlined in the recent COP28 framework in Dubai.

This project marks Solarcentury Africa’s second merchant project in Namibia, focusing primarily on supplying Namibian customers. It follows the 20 MWp Gerus solar PV plant, which is set to commence construction in the coming months. Solarcentury Africa’s membership in the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) as a market participant, announced in November 2023, has enabled this strategic approach. The SAPP membership and the ongoing development of the SolNam project signify crucial steps in the expansion of Solarcentury Africa’s power trading business in the SADC region. The company aims to become a leading power trader in Southern Africa by leveraging its extensive experience in developing solar PV and storage plants in Africa, coupled with the energy trading expertise and substantial capital deployment capabilities of its parent company group, BB Energy. Solarcentury Africa believes that the merchant route presents an opportunity to rapidly and cost-effectively deliver significant new renewable power generation capacity, contributing to the energy transition in the region and meeting its growing power demands.

Jason de Carteret, CEO of Solarcentury Africa, expressed excitement about partnering with SolNam on this significant project for Namibia. He emphasized the importance of receiving the updated generation license from the ECB, highlighting Namibia’s commitment to renewable energy and the project.

Saskia Breuer, Managing Director of SolNam UG, echoed this sentiment, describing the news as fantastic and marking the beginning of a new era in energy supply throughout the region. Breuer expressed eagerness for the development journey alongside Solarcentury Africa.