By: Nghiinomenwa Erastus
Novanam has invested N$30 million on a photovoltaic solar park that will generate 317 000 kilowatts per month, as a result, cutting down its fuel (carbon-emitting) use.
In a statement released by the company yesterday, the fishing company indicated that their investment in solar would assist them in reducing the amount of carbon dioxide they release annually.
The generation of 17 000 kilowatts per month from renewable energy (solar) will lead to the company reducing its use of fuel with 2 393 barrels of oil every year.
This will translate into the company’s annual CO2 emissions reduction by 3 932 tons.
NovaNam 2 300 employees process 100 tons of raw material daily.
Commenting on their investment, NovaNam’s managing director, Edwin Kamatoto, explained that “sustainability is not a part of our strategy. It is our strategy”.
He said by carrying through with solar park investment. The company has committed to the use of renewable energy. It would assist in contributing to freeing up other energy sources.
As a result, enabling much needed developmental and infrastructural goals, especially in Lüderitz and the //Kharas Region.
The Lüderitz photovoltaic solar park rests on 3 132 square meters, including a first of its kind installation on wooden mounted structures to manage the rough rocky terrain.
SolarSaver installed the solar plant.
The company added that the country aims to become a global player in renewable energy and meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 for 2030.
NovaNam has also installed solar plants in Walvis Bay’s hake value addition processing plants.
GENERATE, AND ET REWARDED
The country has allowed Micro Renewable In-feed and Embedded Generators installations as part of the Distribution Grid Code (gazetted in 2018).
In Section 18 of the Electricity Act, a license is not required for a generation plant with an installed capacity of less than 500 kVA. It generates electricity exclusively for its consumption by the person in control of such plant and on-premises owned or occupied by that person.
Customer generators (Micro Renewable Infeed and Embedded Generators) that are generating more than needed and wish to benefit from Net Metering can register themselves with distribution entities.
Net metering is a methodology under which electricity is generated and consumed by a customer-generator. A surplus delivered to the local distribution facilities may be used to offset electric energy provided by the distribution licensee to the customer-generator during an applicable billing period.
Net metering allows customer-generators to reduce their imports from distribution networks through generating for their consumption.
It also allows customer-generators to export to the distribution network up to the imports of the customer-generators from the distribution network.
The net metering rules were meant to promote sustainable renewable energy sources use, small scale investments, value addition and electricity market development.
All renewable energy technologies are eligible for net metering, including but not limited to facilities for the production of electrical energy that uses solar, wind, water, geothermal, biomass, biogas, biofuel, or fuel cell resources.
Micro renewable in-feed is a non-commercial renewable energy-based generator embedded within an installation of the customer, which is operated and maintained by the customer.
Embedded generators generate unit that is connected to the distribution system.
Email: erastus@thevillager.com.na
