Namibia Targets 70% Renewable Energy by 2030

Namibia is betting big on sunshine and wind to power its future, and families struggling with rising electricity costs could soon feel the difference.

The Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower) just unveiled a bold five-year plan to transform the country's energy system. By 2030, seven out of every ten watts powering Namibian homes and businesses will come from renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydro power.

The timing couldn't be better. Right now, Namibia imports about half its electricity from neighboring countries, a figure that jumps to 70% during dry seasons. That dependency makes power expensive and unpredictable for ordinary families.

"When a parent buys a small amount of prepaid power and wonders how long it will last, the language of tariffs and balance sheets offers little comfort," Deputy Energy Minister Gaudentia Kröhne said at the plan's launch this week.

The renewable revolution includes projects already breaking ground. A 100-megawatt solar farm at Rosh Pinah will switch on in early 2027, while the 44-megawatt Diaz Wind project starts spinning turbines later this year. Battery storage systems will help keep the lights on when the sun sets and wind calms.

The pipeline doesn't stop there. Plans include an 80-megawatt solar plant in 2029, a massive 300-megawatt wind project, and a 440-megawatt hydropower dam scheduled for the early 2030s.

The Ripple Effect

The transformation goes beyond keeping lights on. NamPower's strategy aims to boost Namibia to 80% energy self-sufficiency by 2030, meaning billions spent importing electricity will instead circulate through the local economy.

More reliable, affordable power could unlock new possibilities for Namibian businesses and manufacturers. Processing the country's abundant minerals domestically becomes more feasible when energy costs drop and supply stabilizes.

The government also plans to connect 70% of all Namibians to the electricity grid by 2030, bringing modern power to communities that have never had it. Since 1996, NamPower has grown from generating 395 megawatts to 564 megawatts while expanding its network to 25,000 kilometers of transmission lines.

Managing Director Simson Haulofu emphasized the utility will continue buying regional power when needed while building up domestic capacity, ensuring families never experience blackouts during the transition.

By 2030, success won't be measured in megawatts but in transformed lives: parents who can afford to power their homes, businesses that can expand, and a country that controls its own energy destiny.