Namibia has been ranked second among the world’s fastest-growing renewable energy markets, driven largely by the rapid expansion of solar power, according to an analysis by the World Resources Institute (WRI).
The analysis, updated in August 2026, places Namibia alongside Uruguay, the Netherlands and Denmark among countries that have come closest to achieving the pace of solar and wind growth required globally.
The assessment measures the rate at which countries have increased the share of solar and wind in their electricity generation rather than their total installed renewable energy capacity.
According to WRI, Uruguay, Namibia, the Netherlands and Denmark have achieved about three-quarters of the annual global growth rate required between 2025 and 2030. Lithuania, Chile and Jordan were also highlighted for rapidly expanding solar and wind generation.
“However, countries like Uruguay, Namibia, the Netherlands and Denmark have come very close, achieving about three-quarters of the annual global growth rate required from 2025 to 2030. Other countries like Lithuania, Chile and Jordan have also expanded solar and wind generation at remarkable rates, growing multiple times faster than the historical global average,” the report said.
WRI said Namibia has increased solar generation from virtually zero to more than one-third of its domestic electricity generation within a decade, positioning the country among the leading renewable energy performers despite its relatively low income level.
The report attributed Namibia’s solar expansion partly to the country’s push for greater energy security after years of heavy reliance on electricity imports from neighbouring countries, particularly South Africa.
According to WRI, rising electricity costs and regional supply constraints strengthened the case for Namibia to expand domestic renewable energy generation.
“The majority of Namibia’s power is imported from neighbouring countries such as South Africa. This is expensive, and it became even more so after South Africa started experiencing supply shortages in 2008. A desire for energy security led political decision-makers in Namibia to turn to solar energy. It was the obvious choice,” the report said.
Namibia’s natural solar resources have also supported the expansion. WRI said the country receives an average of 10 hours of strong sunlight per day for about 300 days a year, giving it some of the highest practical solar photovoltaic potential globally.
The institute estimates that a solar panel installed in Namibia can receive about twice as much usable solar energy annually as one installed in Ireland.
The analysis also highlighted the competitiveness of Namibia’s renewable energy sector, noting that solar projects have been developed without large financial subsidies, while competitive auctions have resulted in some of the lowest solar power prices in Africa.
WRI said requirements for a share of independent power projects to be owned by Namibians have also helped increase local participation in the renewable energy sector.
Despite the progress, the institute warned that Namibia will need to sustain rapid investment in solar generation as domestic electricity demand increases.
“Namibia’s renewable energy potential is large, and the progress so far has been very promising. However, even though solar makes up a large share of Namibia’s power mix, it’s still a low amount of capacity in total, given that power demand is not that high. The country will need to maintain rapid growth in solar generation to keep up with increases in power demand in the future,” the report said.
Globally, solar and wind accounted for 17.4% of electricity generation in 2025. WRI said their combined share will need to reach between 57% and 78% by 2030 to keep the world on track towards a net-zero emissions pathway.
