Alten’s 45.45MW Namibian solar plant ready to go live

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Alten was chosen by NamPower to build the 45.45MW project at a tender over two years ago (Credit: Alten Energías Renovables)

One of sub-Saharan Africa’s largest reported PV plants is ready to be powered up some 230 kilometres south of Windhoek, Namibia’s capital.

Spanish IPP Alten Energías Renovables anticipated this week the imminent commissioning of a 45.45MW project in the municipality of Mariental, in Namibia’s Hardap region.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

Not ready to commit yet?
  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The firm was selected for the project more than two years, when it prevailed over 12 other bidding developers at a tender by state-run utility NamPower.

The project features crystalline silicon panels, as well as single-axis trackers from Soltec. Astronergy and Gamesa supplied the project with 325Wp modules and 2.5MVA inverters, respectively.

Designed with a 25-year lifespan, the project was as of last March co-owned between Alten Africa (51% stake), NamPower (19%) and a group of women-led local investors (30%).

The installation was said last year to have required around US$70 million in investment, with funding provided by the South African Standard Bank and a subsidiary of French development financier AFP.

The PV project is being touted by its promoters as one of sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest and one of the world’s most efficient, thanks to Namibia’s solid irradiation levels.

The plant was conceived to cover the electricity needs of 70,000 people, around 3% of Namibia’s population. The country boasts high electrification rates but heavily relies on energy imports, Alten noted.

The project is the latest to make strides in the African state. In the last 18 months alone, Canadian Solar’s 6MW project, a PV-HFO hybrid, solar heaters and C&I systems have all marked progress.

Read Next

August 29, 2025
Chinese module maker JA Solar has launched DesertBlue, a PV module designed for desert and semi-arid regions. 
August 29, 2025
US grid interconnection agreements grew by 33% in 2024, reaching 75GW, with three-quarters signed for solar PV and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects, according to a new report from energy market analyst Wood Mackenzie.
August 29, 2025
Meridian Energy and Nova Energy have established a JV to build and operate a 400MW solar plant in Rangitaiki near Taupo in New Zealand.
August 28, 2025
Bahraini, Chinese, Egyptian and Emirati groups have agreed to develop a new solar and storage manufacturing facility in Egypt
August 28, 2025
Indian solar manufacturing firm INA Solar has broken ground on its fourth 4.5GW cell production plant in Narmadapuram, Madhya Pradesh.
August 28, 2025
Boviet Solar has completed exterior construction work on its 3GW PV cell manufacturing facility in Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina. 

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines