Canadian Solar breaks into Africa with 6MW project completed in Namibia

March 14, 2018
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Namibia has some of the highest irradiation levels in the World at 3000 kWh/m² over a wide-area of the country, but had less than 40MW of cumulative solar capacity installed at the end 2017. Image: IRENA

‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Canadian Solar has completed construction and started commercial operation of a 6MWp PV power project in Keetmanshoop, Namibia, its first project in Africa. 

The SMSL said that the plant became operational on November 27, 2017, with an expected annual electricity generation of 14.6GWh, using 18,480 of its CS6U modules. 

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The plants electricity is being purchased by Namibia Power Corporation (Proprietary) Ltd. under a 25-year Renewable Energy feed-in-tariff (REFIT) contract at the rate of NAD1.37 (US$0.10) per kWh.
Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar said, “Africa is part of our global target markets and we will continue to build solar projects there to deliver more clean, safe and affordable solar energy to the continent.”

Namibia has some of the highest irradiation levels in the World at 3000 kWh/m² over a wide-area of the country, but had less than 40MW of cumulative solar capacity installed at the end 2017. 

Read Next

November 6, 2025
The French and Italian solar markets have both moved forward in their latest public tender process for solar capacity.
November 5, 2025
South Africa aims to add 28.7GW of new solar PV generation capacity by 2039, and generate over half of its electricity with renewables by 2042.
November 5, 2025
IPP Sol Systems has selected Solv Energy as the EPC services provider for a 209MW solar PV plant in Texas, US. 
Sponsored
November 5, 2025
PV Tech spoke with Symons Xie, general manager of Anker SOLIX APAC, at All-Energy Australia 2025, where the organisation outlined its strategy for establishing a major presence in Australia's rapidly growing home battery and energy storage market.
November 4, 2025
GCL Intelligent Energy, a subsidiary of Chinese polysilicon producer GCL Technology, has signed shareholder agreements for two clean energy projects in Indonesia with a combined capacity of 200MW.
November 4, 2025
Israel-headquartered IPP Enlight has secured US$150 million in financing to support a solar-plus-storage project in the US.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Webinars
November 12, 2025
10am PST / 1pm EST
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Solar Media Events
March 10, 2026
Frankfurt, Germany