In 2017 Namibia set a goal of using
70% renewable energy sources by 2020. The government sees the shift to
renewable energy sources as a way to reduce electricity costs and eradicate
poverty sustainably. Given the struggles with implementing renewable energy
projects in the US this goal seems ambitious, except for the fact that Namibia
has huge potential for solar and wind. Namibia
is one of the best locations for solar in the world since they receive high
amounts of direct sunlight with little cloud cover. In Namibia solar systems
are mainly used to heat water but are also sometimes used to offset electricity
costs for commercial or domestic purposes. Ultimately, Namibia’s plentiful
solar resources are underutilized because of the high cost of installing solar
panels and the lack of knowledge about them. Similarly, Namibia’s use of wind
energy is minimal but the long coastline provides huge potential for successful
wind energy projects.
Currently the dominant energy
source in Namibia is liquid fuel (petrol, diesel) since the geographical
location leads to large energy demand in transportation. Many of these
petroleum products are imported from other countries like South Africa. In
addition, despite Namibia’s lofty energy goals only 50.4% of Namibian households
have access to electricity. Namibia still has a long way to go in terms of
addressing electricity demand and bringing about their sustainable energy
goals.
-Laura Spielman
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