Namibia has been recognised as one of Africa’s leading countries in distributed electricity generation after its net metering framework and embedded generation regulations received continental recognition for advancing renewable energy development.
The recognition was awarded to the Electricity Control Board (ECB) during the GET.transform Distributed Generation Programme currently under way in Cape Town, South Africa, where Namibia was identified as a benchmark for other African countries participating in the initiative.
According to the ECB, the recognition stems from Namibia’s successful development, review and implementation of its Net Metering Rules and Embedded Generation Standards, which allow households, businesses and farms generating their own electricity to feed surplus power into the national grid in exchange for credits on their electricity bills.
The regulator said Namibia’s regulatory framework governing electricity generation, grid connection, licensing and electricity trading, together with the implementation of embedded generation and net metering, has positioned the country as a model for other African nations seeking to expand small-scale renewable energy generation.
The GET.transform programme, launched in 2024, supports African countries in designing and implementing regulatory frameworks that promote distributed electricity generation, including rooftop solar systems installed at homes, businesses and farms.
As part of the programme’s outcomes, the ECB is scheduled to launch a Distributed Generation (DG) Online Platform in August 2026. The web-based system is expected to simplify the registration, monitoring and promotion of small-scale electricity generation projects across Namibia.
The ECB said the platform was developed using recommendations from the continental programme and will support the continued expansion of embedded generation in Namibia.
The regulator added that the recognition reflects Namibia’s commitment to creating a regulatory environment that encourages private investment in renewable energy while accelerating the integration of solar and wind power into the national electricity system. It said the country’s progress has established Namibia as one of Africa’s leaders in distributed electricity generation and renewable energy regulation.
