NamPower issues a tender for a battery energy storage system

Namibian state owned electricity utility, NamPower, has issued a tender for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the Omburu Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The battery energy storage system will be retrofitted to the planned Omburu 20MW PV Power Project. 

NamPower signed a contract in January this year for the construction of the Omburu Solar PV project. The facility will be constructed by a joint-venture (JV) between Hopsol Africa (Pty) Ltd and Tulive Private Equity. The facility will be located about 12km south-east of Omaruru and will be owned and operated by the state utility once completed.

The planned battery energy storage system will ensure the Omburu solar power plant conveniently dispatches power even after the sun has set or during the days the sun is not shining. 

The majority of the costs for the construction of the solar project and energy storage system will be funded from NamPower’s balance sheet. NamPower hopes to reduce the overall tariff to its customers by introducing an affordable “new-build” renewable energy to the Namibian grid.

The Omburu solar and storage hybrid project will also advance Namibia’s objectives to increase the share of renewable energy generation within the country to 70% by the year 2030, according to the National Renewable Energy Policy of Namibia (July 2017).

According to NamPower’s Managing Director, Simson Haulofu, the utility has a planned generation project portfolio of new build projects to reduce imports from neighbouring South Africa. Six new planned projects are expected to add 220MW to the national grid by 2030.

Namibia has an abundance of solar energy resources. The country receives some of the world’s highest solar irradiation in the world. Currently the country has an installed generation capacity of 459,5 MW from NamPower’s three operating power stations.

Parties interested in submitting proposals for the battery energy storage system (BESS) should submit proposals to the state utility by 29 July 2021 at 16:30 Namibian Time.