Namibia Commissions First Merchant Solar Plant, Powering 14,000 Homes And Opening A New Era Of Market-Based Clean Energy

Namibia has reached an important milestone in its renewable energy journey with the start of operations at its first merchant solar power plant. The 19.3 MWp Gerus Solar plant, developed by Solarcentury Africa, is now fully operational and capable of supplying clean electricity to around 14,000 homes. This project marks a major shift in how solar power is produced and sold in the country, as it moves away from traditional long-term power purchase agreements to a competitive, market-based model.

The Gerus Solar plant is the first project in Namibia to sell electricity directly into the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). This makes it the first solar plant in the country to trade power on a regional electricity market. By doing so, the project strengthens energy security not only for Namibia but also for the wider Southern African region. It allows clean electricity to be sold where it is needed most, based on market demand and pricing.

The project was developed in partnership with Sino Energy (Pty) Limited and was completed within a short period of 12 months. This fast execution highlights strong cooperation between international developers and local institutions, including NamPower and the Electricity Control Board of Namibia. The Gerus plant is only the second purpose-built merchant solar project in Africa, after a similar project in Zambia, showing a gradual move toward more open and liberalised electricity markets on the continent.

The commissioning of this plant adds meaningful capacity to Namibia’s national grid, but it is only one part of a much larger renewable energy push. Namibia is making use of its vast solar resources to reduce dependence on imported electricity and move toward energy independence. The Gerus project forms part of a broader pipeline of large-scale solar developments, including the 100 MW Sores Gaib plant, which reflects the country’s rapid progress in clean energy deployment.

The Namibian government has set a target to raise the share of renewable energy in the national mix to 70% by 2030. To support this goal, several large projects are moving forward, including agreements linked to the planned 100 MW Rosh Pinah solar plant. Together, these projects point to a clear and coordinated strategy to build large solar assets and secure long-term energy stability.

Beyond Namibia, the impact of these solar developments is global. Large projects like Gerus increase demand for solar equipment across the international supply chain. They also play a key role in enabling future green hydrogen production. Germany has identified Namibia as a strategic partner for green hydrogen imports, and large solar plants provide the clean power needed to make this possible. With the success of the Gerus merchant plant, Namibia has demonstrated a model that could attract more private investment and be replicated across Africa, accelerating the continent’s clean energy transition.