Prior to the new development of wind farms Namibia’s power supply came largely from South Africa; approximately 60% of all energy is imported from RSA whilst the remaining 40% comes from a hydro-electric powerstation near Ruacana and a coal fired power station. However, despite Namibia’s dependance on South Africa, there has previously never been adaquate funding to explore other means of energy production.

All this changed in 1993 when the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) began assessing Luderit’z potential wind energy production as part of its ‘Promotion for the Use of Renewable Energy Sources in Namibia’program. This evaluation led to the publication of a report in May 1997 which stated that Luderitz has ‘great potential’in the production of wind energy.

Several years later a Dutch based organisation Áeolus Power Generation partnered up with the Namibian group United Africa Group and began planning a wind turbine project. The Dutch-Namibian group gained permission to begin building in early 2007 and the investment will result in the erection of 102 turbines along the Namibian coastline, which will eventually generate around 25% of all Namibia’s electricity supply. In late 2008 40 turbines intended for Luderitz were shipped to Namibia and are now waiting for construction to begin. The project is costing a vast N$1.1 billion and is partially being funded by a grant from the Dutch Government. All power generated will be sold to Nampower.

It has not yet been confirmed when construction of the wind farm will commence but it is hoped that the development will begin later this year. An industrial windturbine.

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