Since last autumn, the Maerua Mall (Namibia's largest shopping centre) has received some of its electricity directly from its own rooftop. For the countrys second-largest solar rooftop installation, 4,000 Axitec 260P modules were installed and connected to the grid via 40 SMA STP 25000TL string inverters. The east-west facing installation produces nearly 2 million kilowatt hours of solar power every year, all of which are consumed locally.
For the investor, trustworthy partners were important. The company decided to use Krannich Solar because of Krannich's long-term experience in the European PV market. Other pluses were the professional consultation, the best price-performance ratio, and the supply from a single source. Another advantage was the high-performance German Axitec modules, which enjoy a fantastic reputation worldwide.
Krannich Solar has already realised various successful projects of differing sizes with the local partner. The Axitec modules were ideal for this project, reports Joring von Gossler, head of on-site project implementation. Thanks to the excellent warranty conditions and high confidence in German brands, German manufacturer Axitec was the obvious choice for this project. We have worked with Krannich Solar for over three years now, and as always they were highly professional and reliable during their collaboration on the project. The whole team is very customer-oriented, which is reflected in everything from their communication and technical know-how to their flexible logistics. Benjamin Schaible, export manager for Krannich Solar, adds: We are delighted to have an experienced, long-term partner in Namibia, with a great network and superior knowledge of local conditions.
Namibias solar potential is among the highest in the world, with average daily values of 6.5 kWh/m. The east-west installation is proving its worth due to the long solar day and its high coverage of expensive peak electricity rates. In recent years, electricity prices in Namibia have continuously increased by approximately 15 percent per year. Further increases are expected. In addition, supply shortages are not uncommon. All reasons which explain why the operator of the shopping centre has already begun to plan the next stage of the solar installation. With the additional 2.5 MWh, the largest rooftop installation in Africa would produce solar power for shopping enjoyment in Maerua.
