By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa
WINDHOEK – Nampower Managing Director Paulinus Shilamba on Monday inaugurated its first-ever on-grid 26 kilowatt (kW) concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) system at Usib in the Hardap Region.
The system is part of Nampower’s efforts to promote the use of renewable sources of energy.
The CPV system was supplied and installed by Soitec at a cost of N$1.024 million as part of its corporate social responsibility and it will supply power to the Usib Primary School and hostel in the Rehoboth district about 85 km south of Windhoek.
Speaking at the site on Monday, Shilamba said the 26kW CPV plant is an ideal blueprint to provide the necessary technological framework and conditions for the successful transfer and deployment of specific renewable energy technology for on-grid power generation.
He said it is also a good example of how the energy sector can make a meaningful contribution to socio-economic development in the country through utilisation of the energy of the sun, a resource Namibia is blessed with in abundance.
“Extensive project planning and preparation were required in order to ensure that what we see here today was implemented successfully,” he said.
“Nampower views this venture as the beginning, countrywide, of the multiplication of similar on-grid initiatives,” he said.
He urged the community to guard and take care of the valuable asset.
“I would like to emphasise that the project will only be successful with participation and support from the local community,” he stressed.
The event was also attended by the mayor of Rehoboth, Eva Maasdorp.
ktjitemisa@newera.com.na