Narada Power is one of two Chinese companies that signed an agreement on December 13 with utility NamPower to develop the first BESS for Namibia.
Narada and state-owned Shandong Electrical Engineering & Equipment Group said the 54MW/54MWh Omburu BESS, in the capital of Windhoek, is backed with €20 million ($22 million) in grant funding from Germany’s KfW Development Bank.
The lithium-based BESS will help combat power shortages and reduce the impact of intermittent solar power.
Shandong said construction is set to start in February 2024 and could ease Namibia’s reliance on imported supplies of electricity.
Neighbouring countries currently supply up to 70% of Namibia’s power needs, Shandong said.
NamPower, which will own and operate the BESS, said the facility could also help Namibia boost its participation in electricity trading within the 12 member states of the Southern African Power Pool.
Narada said in August that while it is developing a range of lithium BESS projects, it is also committed to expanding its recycling of lead batteries as part of its corporate social responsibility commitments.