London-based Solarcentury Africa has commenced construction of a 20 MW solar power plant in Namibia’s Otjozondjupa region. The $20 million project, co-developed with Namibia’s Sino Energy, is funded by Solarcentury’s parent company, BB Energy. Set to be the region’s first fully merchant independent power producer, the plant will generate 51 GWh annually, selling electricity directly on the Southern African Power Pool.
Solarcentury Africa CEO Jason De Carteret highlighted that the merchant model enables direct trading into the regional grid without the need for long-term power purchase agreements, offering faster deployment and flexibility. The project, which has received the necessary licenses and clearances, is being constructed by Alensy Energy Solutions Pty Ltd. and is expected to be operational by Q3 2025.
This development follows Solarcentury Africa’s recent announcement of a 60 MW merchant solar project in southern Namibia, with additional projects in Zambia and Botswana underway. According to IRENA, Namibia’s total installed solar capacity reached 176 MW at the end of 2023.
