First shipment arrives for NamPower Omburu BESS Project
NamPower recently welcomed the arrival of its first shipment of batteries and Power Conversion System (PCS) containers for the 51MW / 51MWh Omburu Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project.
Elifas Iilende, NamPower Engineer: Generation Projects, said that the Omburu BESS Project is designed for 51MW / 51MWh, using lithium-ion (LFP) battery technology combined with power conversion, control, cooling and protection systems. “It is a battery energy storage system that stores electricity for later use, strengthening grid reliability and helping the grid to handle renewable energy more smoothly. The Omburu BESS Project is being implemented at the Omburu Substation near the town of Omaruru."
The first shipment of eight PCS containers arrived at the Port of Walvis Bay recently. “These PCS containers will be used to convert alternating current (AC) electricity from the grid into direct current (DC) to charge the batteries, as well as convert DC electricity from the batteries back to AC electricity, which powers our homes, businesses and industries,” Iilendeadded.
The Omburu BESS will have a total of nine PCS containers, each connected to four battery containers, making a total of 36 battery containers with a combined output of 51MW / 51MWh.
The first batch of four battery containers arrived shortly after the consignment, bringing the total number of containers received in one week to 12 for the Omburu BESS Project.
The remaining 32 battery containers and one PCS container are scheduled to arrive at the Port of Walvis Bay within the next few weeks, before the end of the year and in several shipments.
Managing energy demand
“The Omburu BESS Project will enable NamPower to cost-effectively manage energy demand and supply by performing energy arbitrage and displacing expensive emergency energy. It will also provide various grid stability services, enabling the grid to integrate additional intermittent renewable energy generation capacity, while ensuring security of supply,” Iilende said.
He explained that in April 2019, NamPower decided to explore the feasibility of integrating battery energy storage systems into the transmission network to support the development and uptake of renewable energy plants.
“As part of the German–Namibian Development Cooperation, on 7 December 2021, KfW Development Bank, the National Planning Commission, and NamPower signed a grant agreement of 20 million euros (approximately N$400 million) towards the implementation of the first utility-scale Battery Energy Storage System in Namibia. NamPower contributed N$100 million towards transmission connection and other costs,” Iilende added.
Following an international bidding process, NamPower signed the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract with Shandong Electrical Engineering & Equipment Group Co., Ltd and Zhejiang Narada Power Source Co., Ltd JV on 13 December 2023.
“Work on the Omburu BESS Project is ongoing, with design work and procurement of all components almost complete. The actual construction and installation works on site are also progressing well. All major components of the BESS, including batteries, PCS units, and switchgear, are expected to be delivered to the site before the end of this year, with installation and commissioning scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2026.”
Elifas Iilende, NamPower Engineer: Generation Projects, said that the Omburu BESS Project is designed for 51MW / 51MWh, using lithium-ion (LFP) battery technology combined with power conversion, control, cooling and protection systems. “It is a battery energy storage system that stores electricity for later use, strengthening grid reliability and helping the grid to handle renewable energy more smoothly. The Omburu BESS Project is being implemented at the Omburu Substation near the town of Omaruru."
The first shipment of eight PCS containers arrived at the Port of Walvis Bay recently. “These PCS containers will be used to convert alternating current (AC) electricity from the grid into direct current (DC) to charge the batteries, as well as convert DC electricity from the batteries back to AC electricity, which powers our homes, businesses and industries,” Iilendeadded.
The Omburu BESS will have a total of nine PCS containers, each connected to four battery containers, making a total of 36 battery containers with a combined output of 51MW / 51MWh.
The first batch of four battery containers arrived shortly after the consignment, bringing the total number of containers received in one week to 12 for the Omburu BESS Project.
The remaining 32 battery containers and one PCS container are scheduled to arrive at the Port of Walvis Bay within the next few weeks, before the end of the year and in several shipments.
Managing energy demand
“The Omburu BESS Project will enable NamPower to cost-effectively manage energy demand and supply by performing energy arbitrage and displacing expensive emergency energy. It will also provide various grid stability services, enabling the grid to integrate additional intermittent renewable energy generation capacity, while ensuring security of supply,” Iilende said.
He explained that in April 2019, NamPower decided to explore the feasibility of integrating battery energy storage systems into the transmission network to support the development and uptake of renewable energy plants.
“As part of the German–Namibian Development Cooperation, on 7 December 2021, KfW Development Bank, the National Planning Commission, and NamPower signed a grant agreement of 20 million euros (approximately N$400 million) towards the implementation of the first utility-scale Battery Energy Storage System in Namibia. NamPower contributed N$100 million towards transmission connection and other costs,” Iilende added.
Following an international bidding process, NamPower signed the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract with Shandong Electrical Engineering & Equipment Group Co., Ltd and Zhejiang Narada Power Source Co., Ltd JV on 13 December 2023.
“Work on the Omburu BESS Project is ongoing, with design work and procurement of all components almost complete. The actual construction and installation works on site are also progressing well. All major components of the BESS, including batteries, PCS units, and switchgear, are expected to be delivered to the site before the end of this year, with installation and commissioning scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2026.”
