The Namibian government has set the precedence on the usage of renewable energy. Cabinet issued a directive last year that all new government buildings be fitted with solar water heating panels including all replacements or newly renovated government building. The directive also applied to all government parastatal buildings and agencies.It is estimated that N$100-million is spend on heating water every year.

Cabinet agreed that the promotion of solar water heaters should become an automatic choice for water-heating in all its institutions with immediate effect.
The acceleration of renewable energy usage is also on the top agenda of the government through the implementation of the second phase of the Namibian Renewable Energy Programme (NAMREP), under the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The second phase will be executed over a three-year period ending 2010 and is funded with N$70-million.
The funds will be availed through technical assistance from the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Global Environment Facility (GEF), among other bilateral partners. The first phase started in 2003 and looked at the promotion of renewable energy usage.
The second phase will focus on facilitating the implementation of the numerous interventions identified in the first phase.
The successful implementation of these two directives will go a long way in contributing to the realization of the White Paper on Energy Policy goals of ensuring security of energy supply, and affordable access to modern energy services,” the Minister of Mines and Energy, Erkki Nghimtina commented late last year.
The NAMREP was launched in April 2003 to increase affordable access to sustainable energy services with a kitty of US$5.2-million spread over five years. The programme deals with the promotion of solar technologies such as solar water heaters, solar home systems and photovoltaic pumps, whose use has increased since the advent of the programme.
Cabinet resolutions are that acquisition and installation of heaters be done through open tender. Also, manufacturing of solar water heaters should be done in Namibia to create employment opportunities and enhance technological know-how of the local masses.
It is estimated that there are 97000 electrical water heaters in Namibia. Installed domestic electrical heaters represent about 23% (106 megawatts) of peak demand for grid electricity. Water heating in domestic spheres comprises between 30% and 50% of household electricity bills.