SINCE Namibia is a net-importer of electricity, importing 60% of its electricity from Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) countries such as Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique and so forth, the grid-tied system might just be the solution the country needs to reduce electricity costs.
The country charges its consumers some of the highest electricity rates within the Southern African Development Community region, seeing that most of its electricity is imported.
A Grid-Tied Solar System, also known as the tied to grid or grid tie system, is a semi-autonomous electrical generation or grid energy storage system which links to the mains to feed excess capacity back to the local mains electrical grid. The system uses solar energy.
Using grid-tied systems, businesses can save approximately 60% of their electrical bills, depending on how much electricity the businesses uses.
Businesses are urged to make use of Grid-Tied systems because currently the electricity which the country imports is paid at a high premium and is funded by middle and high-income earners. Lights Systems Namibia (LSN) specialises in installing these systems. LSN is advising businesses to invest in these systems in order to pay lower rates for electricity.
LSN started installing these systems in 2014, when the company was formed and the clients who’ve had the systems installed at their businesses have given positive feedback on the use of the solutions.
“The grid-tied system can be used by households, restaurants, supermarkets and any firm that want to save money as they would be guaranteed a reduction in the amount of money spent on the electricity bill.
Grid-Tied systems come in various sizes, ranging from as little as 3KW to 500KW, and customers can choose which size they would like to have installed for their businesses.
“These systems generate energy from the sun during the day and clients can use the energy generated from it during the day because it only works during that time.
If businesses do not utilise all the energy generated by the grid-tied system during the day, it would be fed into the national or distributor grid which is the compensated or credited on the client’s municipality bill. There is a law promulgated by the Government called the NET METERING RULES in order to deal with ways to have clients compensated who produce their own electricity,” he added.
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