Omburu is a 4.5 MW solar power plant in Erongo, Namibia. It is operated by Namibia Power Corp Ltd [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 1.9k homes (estimated). It ranks #15 of 16 Namibia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2022, it is around 4 years old — recently built. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, solar supplies about 35.4% of Namibia's electricity; the national grid averages 49 gCO₂/kWh (97.6% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1023136.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.
capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 4.5 MW, Omburu is below the median solar plant in Namibia (6.6 MW). Technically it is described as PV. Solar PV converts sunlight directly into electricity with no moving parts or fuel; output varies by time of day and weather, so it pairs with storage or flexible backup.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Namibia solar capacity
- 5.2% of 86 MW across 8 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 4 of 6 dated solar plants in Namibia are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest solar plants in Namibia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Namibia Power Corp Ltd [100%].
Local climate & thermal context
This solar plant converts sunlight directly into electricity with photovoltaic panels. It sits in a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 21.4°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 91% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 17/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Solar PV loses ~0.35%/°C above 25°C cell temperature — roughly 0.0% at warm-season highs here (estimate).
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with dust abrasion the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #7 largest solar power plant of 8 in Namibia by capacity.
Namibia has 8 solar power plants in this dataset, together about 86 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Osona · Solar · 5 MW · Otjozondjupa
- Otjiwarongo Pv · Solar · 6.7 MW · Otjozondjupa
- Arandis Erongo power station · Gas · 250 MW · Erongo
- Arandis · Solar · 50 MW · Erongo
- Okakarara power station · Coal · 300 MW · Otjozondjupa
- Ohorongo · Solar · 6.6 MW · Otjozondjupa
Location
Coordinates -21.4148, 15.973 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Omburu?
Omburu is a 4.5 MW solar power plant in Erongo, Namibia, commissioned in 2022.
Who operates Omburu?
Omburu is operated by Namibia Power Corp Ltd [100%].