In 2023, Namibia relied on net imports for almost 60% of its electricity consumption, while domestically generated low-carbon electricity supplied about 40%. Hydropower accounted for roughly 28% of consumption and solar for 11%, making these the main domestic clean electricity sources. The remaining share—less than 1%—came from domestic fossil-fuel generation. The data do not identify the generation mix behind imported electricity, so imports cannot be classified entirely as either low-carbon or fossil-based.

Is Electricity Growing in Namibia?

Namibia’s latest figures do not show electricity consumption reaching new highs. In 2023, consumption was about 1,570 kWh per person, roughly 310 kWh, or 16%, below the record of 1,873 kWh set in 2014. Domestic low-carbon electricity generation was about 620 kWh per person, approximately 310 kWh, or one-third, short of its 1991 record. These comparisons show a substantial gap from historic peaks, although they do not establish whether electricity grew or fell in 2023 relative to 2022. Closing that gap matters: Namibia needs more clean electricity to support electrification, economic development and emerging demand, including from AI.

Suggestions

Namibia should expand solar generation, building on its already substantial contribution. Sunny regions offer useful examples: solar supplies 35% of electricity generation in the US state of Nevada, almost a quarter in Chile and about a fifth in Australia. Namibia could draw lessons from their deployment of solar alongside grid investment and storage. Wind could complement this expansion, with Morocco generating about 20% of its electricity from wind and Kenya about 12%, providing relevant African examples. Namibia should also consider nuclear electricity as part of its long-term clean electricity strategy, including opportunities for regional cooperation. France generates about two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear, while the United Arab Emirates generates about one-fifth, illustrating how nuclear can provide a substantial foundation for low-carbon electricity growth.

History

Namibia’s low-carbon electricity history has largely been shaped by hydropower, with repeated periods of recovery and expansion. During the variable 1990s, hydro generation increased by 0.5 TWh in 1995 and 0.4 TWh in 1998. Further gains followed in the early 2000s: 0.2 TWh in both 2000 and 2002, and 0.3 TWh in 2005. The 2010s brought additional hydro increases of 0.2 TWh in 2012, 2014 and 2017, followed by a notable diversification milestone when solar generation grew by 0.3 TWh in 2019. Hydropower subsequently recorded strong rebounds of 0.6 TWh in 2020 and 0.5 TWh in 2023. These gains demonstrate Namibia’s capacity to expand clean electricity, with solar offering an important pathway toward more sustained growth.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade