Wind power as a low-carbon energy source with measurable climate impact
Ombepo Wind, Namibia
The Ombepo Wind project in the Lüderitz region of southern Namibia aims to generate renewable electricity from wind energy and supply it to the national grid over the long term.
By generating electricity from wind power, emissions are avoided that would otherwise arise from fossil-based electricity imports and thermal power plants. The climate impact is achieved directly through the displacement of conventional electricity generation.
Over their technical lifetime, the wind turbines continuously supply clean energy. In this way, the project helps avoid greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector and strengthens the climate impact of renewable electricity generation within a power system that is highly dependent on imports.
A project that demonstrates how wind energy can contribute effectively to climate mitigation — designed for the long term, implemented transparently, and delivering measurable impact.
Technical project data – VCS1915
Key facts about the wind power project at a glance.
| Parameter | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Project location | Namibia; Lüderitz region (Karas Region) | Project Description, Section 1.8 (Project Location) |
| Project type | Onshore wind power project for grid-connected electricity generation from renewable energy | Project Description, Section 1.3 (Project Type) |
| Project standard | Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) | Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) |
| Project developer | Ombepo Energy (Pty) Ltd. | Project Description, Section 1.4 (Project Proponent) |
| Installed capacity | Onshore wind farm with total installed capacity as specified in the project description | Project Description, Section 1.1 (Project Summary) |
| Technology / approach | Electricity generation using wind turbines with feed-in to the national power grid | Project Description, Section 1.1 (Project Summary) |
| Baseline scenario | Electricity generation from the existing fossil-based grid and imported electricity mix | Project Description, Section 2.2 (Baseline Scenario) |
| Methodology | ACM0002 – Grid-connected electricity generation from renewable sources (VCS) | Project Description, Section 1.9 (Applied Methodology) |
| Project start | Commencement of electricity generation as per project registration | Project Description, Section 1.6 (Project Start Date) |
| Crediting period | Active crediting period under VCS; fixed or renewable in accordance with project registration | Monitoring Report, Section 1.7 (Crediting Period) |
| Project status | Registered and regularly verified VCS project | Verra Registry |
| Annual emission reductions | Emission avoidance through displacement of fossil-based electricity generation; volume depends on the respective monitoring period | Monitoring & Verification Reports |
| Main impact mechanism | Avoidance of CO₂ emissions through the supply of renewable wind electricity to the grid | Project Description, Section 2 (Project Activity) |
| Monitoring & verification | Regular monitoring of electricity generation and independent verification by accredited third-party auditors | Monitoring & Verification Reports |
| Additionality | Economic feasibility and investment decision supported by revenues from the carbon market | Project Description, Section 3 (Additionality) |
| Permanence & risk management | Technical emission avoidance over the lifetime of the wind turbines; no physical permanence required | Energy project type |
| Carbon Credit Rating | Currently no external, independent carbon credit rating published | No rating agency Verra Registry |
| Carbon Credit Rating Type | No project-specific external assessment or classification disclosed | – |
| Article 6 Authorization (Paris Agreement) | No authorization under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement disclosed | Verra Registry |
| CCP Status (ICVCM) | Currently no CCP classification published | ICVCM |
| Management of Double Counting Risks | Clear allocation and registration of emission reductions within the VCS registry; double counting excluded | VCS Rules |
| Permanence of Emission Reductions | Emission avoidance over the technical lifetime of the wind turbines through continuous electricity generation | Project Description |
| Monitoring Approach | Measurement of electricity supplied to the grid using calibrated meters and documented monitoring procedures | Monitoring Report |
| Project Lifetime / Long-term Design | Long-term infrastructure project with a defined crediting period | VCS Project Details |
| Contribution to National Climate Strategy | Contribution to emission reductions in the power sector; no national accounting under Article 6 disclosed | Project Documentation |
What the project can contribute
Here we summarize what the project is actually intended to achieve and which practical improvements it can enable.
- 1
Reducing dependence on electricity imports
Namibia is highly dependent on electricity imports from southern Africa. The wind project increases domestic power generation and helps reduce external dependencies within the national energy system.
- 2
Embedding renewable capacity within the energy system
By developing a large-scale wind farm, renewable energy is firmly integrated into the national power system. The project expands the existing generation structure by adding another climate-friendly technology.
- 3
Supporting grid stability through diversified generation
Wind energy complements existing power sources both temporally and technologically. The additional electricity supplied from wind contributes to a more balanced energy mix.
- 4
Creating investment security for renewable energy
Through its long-term project structure, reliable power offtake, and accompanying climate finance, the project builds confidence for further investments in renewable energy in the region.
- 5
Ensuring measurable and verifiable emission reductions
Avoided emissions are systematically monitored, verified, and documented. In this way, the project delivers a verifiable contribution to emission reductions in the power sector.
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Global climate relevance
Avoiding fossil emissions
The Ombepo Wind project replaces electricity that would otherwise be generated from fossil fuel power plants or imported energy sources. Emission reductions occur directly within the power sector, one of the world’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Global impact of emission reductions
Greenhouse gases affect the climate regardless of where they are emitted. Every tonne of CO₂ avoided contributes to stabilising the global climate, even when emissions are reduced through wind energy generation in Namibia.
Driving structural change in the energy system
Expanding renewable electricity generation in countries with limited domestic capacity has a strong leverage effect. The project supports the long-term transition towards a climate-friendly energy supply.
Enabled by climate finance
Revenues from the carbon market enable the implementation, operation, and monitoring of the project. Independent verification and transparent documentation ensure the traceability and credibility of the climate impact.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – The relevant and the complementary contributions
Beyond the avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions, the Ombepo Wind project contributes to the expansion of renewable electricity generation, strengthens energy supply, and reduces dependence on fossil energy sources. In doing so, the project supports several objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda (Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs). The most significant contributions are made to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). Additional goals are supported in a complementary or indirect manner. Some SDGs are considered marginal contributions, as they are not part of the project’s core focus.
By generating electricity from wind power, emissions-intensive electricity generation is displaced. The avoided emissions occur directly within the energy sector and contribute to the global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Contribution:
Avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions through renewable electricity generation.The project feeds renewable electricity into the national grid and expands Namibia’s energy mix by adding a climate-friendly generation technology. This reduces dependence on fossil energy sources and electricity imports.
Contribution:
Expansion of renewable electricity generation and strengthening of a clean energy supply.The construction, operation, and maintenance of the wind farm create employment and technical skills within the energy sector. These effects support the local economy but are not the primary focus of the project.
Contribution:
Support for employment and economic activity in the energy sector.As a large-scale infrastructure project, Ombepo Wind contributes to the development of modern energy infrastructure and strengthens the conditions for further investment in renewable energy.
Contribution:
Strengthening of energy-related infrastructure and technical capacity.A more stable and diversified electricity supply indirectly supports the security of supply for urban and industrial centres. However, the project does not have a direct focus on urban development.
Contribution:
Indirect support for stable energy supply without an explicit urban focus.
How CO₂ Savings Are Generated
Clean electricity from renewable energy projects replaces fossil-based power. The emissions avoided through this shift can be measured and form the basis for issuing carbon credits.
Renewable power changes the overall energy mix: every kilowatt hour produced by wind, solar or hydropower reduces the need for electricity from coal, gas or oil.
The amount of CO₂ emitted per kilowatt hour varies by country and by fuel type. These official grid emission factors make it possible to calculate how much CO₂ would have been released without the renewable energy project.
For each project, the expected fossil share is compared with the clean electricity actually delivered. The difference shows the verified emission reductions — the real CO₂ savings. These values are reviewed by independent auditors, updated regularly, and form the certified basis for carbon credits.
Context and transparency
The Ombepo Wind energy project is registered under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and is subject to regular monitoring and independent third-party verification. The reported emission reductions are based on verified monitoring reports and recognised methodologies for calculating avoided emissions from fossil-based electricity generation.
The project serves as an example of climate mitigation measures in the energy sector that combine renewable electricity generation with measurable climate impact — transparently documented, technically verifiable, and designed for long-term operation.