Swiss solar developer HopSol has selected photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer First Solar’s high-performance thin-film modules to power the Otjozondjupa Solar Park, in Namibia.
The 5 MW facility, which was expected to be completed in June, would be Namibia’s largest grid-connected solar PV plant and would account for 1% of the country’s total generation capacity.
The utility-scale project was being developed by HopSol Africa, a subsidiary of the Zurich-headquartered company. Powered by over 52 000 modules, the power plant would supply almost 14 000 MWh/y of electricity to State-owned utility NamPower.
“Our decision to select First Solar’s thin-film modules was primarily driven by the operating conditions in the area. We needed a reliable module technology that would thrive in the hot temperatures that are common in the summer months and also deliver energy in cloudy, low-light conditions.
“In fact, by our estimates, thin-film modules deliver up to 10% more energy in Namibia than conventional silicon PV panels,” said HopSol chairperson Robert Hopperdietzel.
The facility would use single-axis tracking technology to increase energy yield by up to 25%.