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Wind energy project soon

Nampower and other relevant stakeholders are expected to draft a Power Purchase Agreement that outlines the conditions and prices for the purchase of energy, should the planned wind energy project facilitated by the Polytechnic of Namibia’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Institute in collaboration with Vestas take off.
The drafting of the Power Purchase Agreement comes after the WindTalks Namibia workshop recently held in Windhoek.
According to Andrew Hilton, vice president of communications at Vestas, talks focused on the development of a suitable Power Purchase Agreement and a contract between the wind energy project developer and the energy off-taker NamPower, that outlines the conditions as well as prices for the purchase of energy from the project.
“This include management of issues related to the integration of wind energy into the Namibian electrical grid, including codes and standards, how to better understand and allocate the risk associated with Power Purchase Agreement between the project developer, NamPower and other involved parties,” he said.
Meanwhile the Namibia Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Institute, Vestas and other stakeholders including government, will further engage in focused discussions on these topics.
“Namibia Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Institute and Vestas will seek ways to support progress through providing international best practices, examples and models from other countries, as well as tools, resources and experienced experts from mature wind energy markets. For example, support could be provided on grid code development, wind mapping and forecasting, financial models, and other issues,” Kudakwashe Ndhlukula, renewable energy development officer and coordinator at the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Institute at Polytechnic of Namibia  said.
Talks were also held as part of efforts to address power shortage and inadequate access to energy in the country.
“If Namibia continues to rely on imported electricity and does not invest in local generation capacity, future power outages could be as high as 10% of total demand. For one 24 hour blackout occurring every month, which is the equivalent of a decrease in electricity supply of only 3% to Namibia’s gross domestic product is reduced by almost 4%,” Ndhlukula added.
It is envisaged that the project will be of economic benefit to the country through job creation and  price stability.
The WindTalks Namibia workshop was presented by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Institute at the Polytechnic of Namibia and Vestas as part of the Development Dialogue Forum series, an initiative of the Polytechnic of Namibia and the United Nations Development Programme.

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