Vivo Energy Namibia on Innovation

With a retail network spanning more than 60 Shell service stations across the vast expanse of Namibia, Vivo Energy Namibia has a sizeable local market share, but however also a share of the carbon footprint.  The company has moved to address this concern by adopting Shell’s aim to reduce the carbon intensity of its service stations to less than 50%, particularly at company-owned sites.

With an average solar irradiation level of 2,200 kWh/m² over large parts of the country, Namibia has the second highest level of solar irradiation in the World. This, coupled with the fact that Namibia has net metering, makes a compelling case for Vivo Energy Namibia to invest in Solar PV systems at Shell Retail outlets.

Small steps towards innovation

In 2017, Vivo Energy Namibia piloted the first solar project on its Company owned, Company operated (COCO) site, Lafrenz Shell in Windhoek. An additional site, Mariental, was fitted with a solar system in 2019, building the business case for reduced onsite carbon intensity even further. The business has since recorded substantial reductions in electricity costs for these two sites, with savings of up to 30%.

A leap of faith towards sustainability

Following the successful trial of Lafrenz and Mariental, Vivo Energy Namibia commissioned an initiative to roll out solar power to twenty (20) Company Owned & Dealer Operated (CODO) sites, driven by the objective to lower the energy consumption cost for retail operations at these sites and demonstrate our commitment to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7.

It is envisaged that the completion of these projects in 2020/2021 will usher in a new era of sustainable retail service stations that are carbon neutral and resource efficient.