Country snapshot · Southern Africa
Namibia
Solar added each year
Ember estimates of all solar (utility-scale, distributed and off-grid), MW. 2026 is Ember’s full-year estimate.
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| Year | MW | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 14.1 | Ember estimate |
| 2024 | 37.8 | Ember estimate |
| 2025 | 134.7 | Ember estimate |
| 2026E | 156.2 | Ember estimate, full year |
0.9% of Africa’s estimated 2026 solar additions (156.2 of 17,449.4 MW).1
Who has electricity
Share of people with access to electricity, 2024: rural and urban.
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| Area | Access | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Rural | 41.1% | 2024 |
| Urban | 77.2% | 2024 |
| National | 59.3% | 2024 |
World Bank WDI, 2024.2
How reliable is the grid for business?
Firms experiencing electrical outages (2024 survey), compared with Sub-Saharan Africa and the world.3,4N6
53.7% (2024 survey) · Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4% · World 47.5% (2025)
The rules for small-scale generationN2,N7
Export rules: Yes
- Regulator
- Electricity Control Board (ECB)
- Main utility
- NamPower
Export rulesNet Metering Rules (promulgated Nov 2016; exports from Jul 2017). In force.6High confidenceShow detail
Net Metering Rules (adopted 2015; promulgated Nov 2016; exports from 1 Jul 2017). In force
How exports are creditedCredited at the utility's avoided energy cost, not cash; ECB publishes rates.6High confidenceShow detail
**Verified:** credited at the utility's avoided energy cost (not cash). ECB publishes the rates (e.g. "Net_Metering_Avoided_Cost_1617")
Size limits and licensingUp to 500 kW (some sources say 500 kVA); feeder cap of 15% of maximum demand.7High confidenceShow detail
**Verified with a unit nuance:** pv magazine 2017 says up to 500 kVA, while IEA and the 2026 news say 500 kW. NamPower connections are first-come, first-served until 15% of the feeder's maximum demand. The 2026 ECB online platform covers ≤500 kW, including battery storage, with a 30-day approval target
Mini-grid rulesNot searched.Low confidenceShow detail
None found (not specifically searched; see Gaps)
Market access beyond the utilityModified Single Buyer market since Sep 2019 (30% of energy contestable); wheeling framework since 2019.8,9High confidenceShow detail
**Verified:** the Modified Single Buyer (MSB) market opened 1 Sep 2019 with 30% of annual energy contestable. Phase 1a (Sep 2019–Jun 2021) covered transmission customers. Phase 1b (Jul 2021–Jun 2026) added distribution customers ≥1 MVA. Phase 2 (from Jul 2026) extends to distribution customers as the regulator determines and allows imports. A wheeling framework has existed since 2019
“None found” means we could not locate a rule in public sources reviewed to 10 October 2026, not that one cannot exist.
Recent developments
Dated developments, 2024–2026.
The full report
This is a snapshot. The full story is in Africa’s Invisible Grid.
The full analysis, with 17 exhibits on the boom, the data gap, the economics and the four building blocks, is in Africa’s Invisible Grid.
