Promoting Solar-Driven Desalination for Water and Food Security in an Arid Environment: The Case of the Namibian Coastal Regions

Namibia, the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa, faces severe water scarcity and food insecurity due to its arid climate, erratic rainfall, and high evaporation rates, which threaten the availability of water for domestic use, rain-fed agricultural activities, livestock, and fisheries, which are critical to the livelihoods. Despite having a 1572 km coastline, Namibia underutilises desalination, relying instead on depleting groundwater and ephemeral rivers. This study assessed the feasibility of scaling solar-driven desalination to enhance water and food security, leveraging Namibia’s abundant solar resources (Global Horizontal Irradiance >6.6 kWh/m2/day). This research employed a qualitative methodology, analysing several relevant documents, existing initiatives (e.g. the Orano plant), pilot solar-powered projects, and reviewing relevant policies. The findings reveal that Namibia can mitigate water stress by upscaling desalination for water production for domestic and agricultural purposes, which is highly plausible, especially when the process is combined with solar power to reduce energy costs. Conventional desalination faces barriers, including high energy costs (3–4 kWh/m3), infrastructure gaps, and environmental concerns. Solar-integrated initiatives, such as graphene oxide membranes and zero liquid discharge, have the potential to reduce energy expenses and provide an environmentally friendly water production process while producing a substantial amount of water. Successful case studies from Israel and Saudi Arabia have demonstrated scalable models. Simultaneously, local pilots (for example University of Namibia’s solar-powered desalination) confirm the technical viability of the approach, producing 2300 litres per hour of high-quality water. Upscaling desalination could also benefit ecological restoration and ecotourism, reinforcing the climate-resilient system and ensuring sustainability. The study recommends policy reforms to streamline water governance, further development of public-private partnerships for financing, and enhanced community engagement to ensure the sustainable use of water resources.