The City of Windhoek plans to construct a 25-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) plant as part of its broader commitment to diversify its energy sources and reduce its carbon footprint.
According to initial projections mooted in 2021, the project implementation was expected to cost at least N$420 million.
The project, set to be developed on a build, own, and operate model, aims to not only power the City but also contribute significantly to its sustainable development.
As concerns about climate change and the environmental impact of traditional energy sources continue to mount, the move towards renewable energy solutions, according to the municipality, is both timely and imperative.
As part of the implementing plans for the project, the City has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the construction, financing, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of the proposed solar plant.
The announcement was made by Maggy Uuyuni, the City’s Head of Procurement, who emphasised the importance of this project for Windhoek’s energy future.
“The City of Windhoek herewith extends an invitation to you for Phase 2 (Request for Proposal stage) of this project, in accordance with the shortlisting conducted through the pre-qualification stage,” she said.
To facilitate the RFP process, several crucial documents have been attached to the invitation, including the City of Windhoek 25MW PPP project RFP document, City of Windhoek Distribution Connection Agreement, City of Windhoek Land Lease Agreement, and City of Windhoek Power Purchase Agreement.
This development follows after the City in 2021 released a bid for an Independent Power Producer (IPP) developer in the solar PV market to finance, procure, install commission and operate the 25MW solar PV plant on a build, own and operate basis for a period of 25 years.
“The Municipal Council of Windhoek intends to undertake this endeavour as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors to achieve energy sustainability,” said the City.
Meanwhile, in terms of financial commitments, the City’s spokesperson Harold Akwenye said “it is still at an early procurement stage and we have not received any costs yet”.
The Windhoek Municipality notes that the 25MW Solar PV Plant is expected to play a pivotal role in achieving its vision of becoming a Smart and Caring City.
This comes after the City of Windhoek in June was awarded an N$8.8 million grant to power 50,000 homes in informal settlements with solar electricity through the Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF).
The move by the African Development Bank’s UMDF is part of the “Informal Settlement Renewable Electrification and Upgrading Programme” of the city, which will directly benefit about 200,000 people in Windhoek, where 20% of the population lacks access to electricity.
O&L Nexentury, a subsidiary of the Ohlthaver & List Group (O&L), plans to construct a 100-megawatts solar plant to be located outside Windhoek at a cost of more than N$1 billion.
