RIVER HIGHER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
INTERNSHIP REPORT FOR MR HOBBY SHIPO
NAME OF COMPANY NAMIBIAN ENGINEERING CORPORATION
REPORTING PERIOD 04/12/23 – 12/ 04/24
SUPERVISOR Mr JANUARY RUBEN
A report submitted in partial fulfillment of Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
requirements
2.1 Brief Executive Summary
Last year from the 4th of December 2023, one worked as an intern at a German co- owned
company (NEC) Namibian Engineering Cooperation in Windhoek. That is where I worked as
a SGS & SIS Installer for five months until the 12th April 2024, the responsibilities included
harnessing sunshine for electricity and having the innovative genius to turn it into reality ,
thus how NEC came into existence. NEC was established in 1958. It was originally called “
South West Engineering and later renamed to NEC.
NEC (Pty) Ltd is a leading provider of energy and pumping solutions, dedicated to delivering
excellence in service and innovation. The NEC group embarked on a restructure of its
operating entities , and they had proudly introduced the NEC energy and NEC water and
pumps as their core operating entities.
NEC Energy embodies our commitment to providing cutting- edge solar energy and storage
solutions tailored to the needs of both their residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
Their team of experts are dedicated to delivering reliable and sustainable energy solutions
that drives effiency and performance.
At NEC (Pty) Ltd, the company is driven by a passion for innovation and commitment to
exceeding customer expectations. A focus on quality, reliability, and sustainability strive to
be the partner of choice for all one’s energy, water storage , and pumping needs.
3. Acknowledgements
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who supported and guided me
throughout my internship journey at Namibian Engineering Corporation (NEC).
First and foremost, I extend my deepest appreciation to Mr. January Ruben, my supervisor,
for his mentorship, patience, and encouragement during the entire internship period. His
guidance played a crucial role in helping me understand both the theoretical and practical
aspects of solar energy systems.
A heartfelt thank you goes to all the staff and colleagues at NEC for their friendliness,
teamwork, and willingness to share their knowledge and experience with me. Their support
helped me adapt quickly and feel like a valuable part of the team.
I also wish to thank my academic institution and lecturers for preparing me to take on this
internship with confidence and professionalism.
Lastly, I am grateful to my family and friends for their continuous encouragement and
motivation throughout my studies and training.
This internship has been a valuable learning experience, and I am truly thankful to everyone
who contributed to its success.
5. Description of the company/institution Abstract
5.1 Full Title and Brief History:
The full name of the company is Namibian Engineering Corporation (Pty) Ltd (NEC).
NEC was established in 1958 under the name South West Engineering, and later rebranded as
NEC. It is a German co-owned company based in Windhoek, Namibia, specializing in
engineering solutions, particularly in the energy and water sectors.
Mailing Address:
Namibian Engineering Corporation (Pty) Ltd
Windhoek, Namibia
(You may add the street address if you have it.)
Website: https://www.nec.com.na (Assumed link based on typical formatting – update if
needed)
5.2 Type of Ownership:
NEC is a private company (Pty) Ltd with partial German ownership. While shareholder
information is not disclosed, it operates under private ownership.
5.3 Sector and Services:
NEC operates in the renewable energy and engineering sector, focusing on solar energy
solutions, water pumping systems, and energy storage technologies. Its core offerings
include:





Solar Grid-Tied Systems
Off-Grid Rooftop Systems
Solar Water Heaters
Agricultural Solar Water Pumps
Customized solar energy designs and installations
5.4 Customers:
NEC serves a broad range of customers including:





Residential households
Commercial and industrial businesses
Agricultural sectors
Government and private institutions
Internal stakeholders (employees and engineers)
5.5 Organizational Structure and Staff:
NEC has a structured organizational setup that includes departments such as Engineering and
Design, Sales and Marketing, Operations, and Technical Installation.
(Insert organization chart if available or create a basic one if needed)
The company employs over 50 staff members, including engineers, technicians,
administrative staff, and customer service personnel.
5.6 Functions of Engineers:
Engineers at NEC perform various technical and operational functions such as:


Designing solar power and water pump systems
Conducting site surveys and energy assessments




Installing and commissioning solar PV systems
Operating and maintaining power tools and equipment
Providing technical support and customer consultation
Ensuring system safety, efficiency, and compliance with standards
6. Different Product / Scope of Work

Solar Grid Tied System

Solar off Grid Rooftop System

Solar Heart gysers system

Solar Agricultural water pump
Solar Energy is the cleanest , most abundant renewable energy source available. Modern day
technology allows us to harness this resources in several ways, giving the public and
commercial entities flexible ways to use both the light and heat of the sun. There are three
primary technologies by which solar energy is commonly harnessed such as Photovoltaics
(PV), which directly convert light to electricity, as well as Concentrating Solar Power ( CSP),
which uses heat from the sun ( thermal energy) to drive utility scale, electric turbines, and
heating and cooling systems, which collect thermal energy to provide hot water and air
conditioning. Solar energy can be employed through distributed generation, whereby the
equipment is located on rooftops or ground – mounted arrays close to where the energy is
used.
6.1 Types of Solar Systems
On – Grid Solar PV Systems
Today, grid tied systems are the most common type of photovoltaic tied system which allows
one to save more money with solar panels. Through better effiency rates, net metering, plus
lower equipment and installation costs, in addition, often, solar panels will generate more
electricity than what one is capable of consuming.
With the net metering, the users can put this excess electricity onto the utility grid instead of
storing it themselves with batteries. Net metering plays an important role in how solar power
is incentivized. Without it, the solar system would be much less feasible from a financial
point of view. The utility grid acts as a virtual battery, without the need of maintenance or
replacements and with much better effiency rates. Grid tied system do not provide protection
from power cuts for example, when electrical grid fails, grid systems will not continue to
operate. This allows utility employees to fix power lines safely without wasting and
identifying solar systems that are still feeding electricity into the power lines.
Off- Grid Systems
Off- Grid Solar Systems provides electricity at all times, to ensure this , an off-grid solar
system requires battery storage and an inverter. The addition of an inverter allows the system
to convert DC ( Direct Current) coming from the batteries into AC ( Alternating Current).
The battery system conventionally use have to be replaced after 10 years. They are
complicated, expensive and decrease overall system effiency. Therefore , we often made use
of our OEM battery system such as Li- Rock, which uses Lithium technology. This enables it
to have a longer life, better effiency and it also occupies less space. In addition Photovoltaic
system ensures that the customer never faces power cuts and can be installed at any location
with good solar irradiance.
6.2 Types of Solar Panel
Mono- Crystalline Solar Modules
It is a solar module comprising of mono-crystalline solar cells. It works when sunlight falls
on the mono-crystalline solar modules, the cells absorbs the energy and creates an electric
field through a complicated process, in addition, mono-crystalline solar panels are
characterized by their black PV cells with rounded edges. They have a higher conversion
effiency than polycrystalline panels, which means they produce more kilowatt- hours of
electricity and while they are the most efficient solar panels, they are also the most expensive.
The manufacturing process of single- crystal silicon cell is more complex.
Polycrystalline Solar Modules
Polycrystalline solar modules are solar modules that consists of several crystals of silicon in
a single PV cell, Polycrystalline solar panels have blue hued PV cells with straight edges.
They have a lower efficiency compared with mono-crystalline cells, which means you need
more panels to reach the same power output however, polycrystalline panels also have a
lower price since their manufacturing process is simpler. Polycrystalline panels are very
durable, but they tend to last slightly less than mono-crystalline panels. They have also
affected more by high temperatures, which reduces their productivity on the hottest days.
List main modules/ Components
Grid- Tie Inverter
Grid – Tie Inverter
A grid- tied PV inverter is specified to solar PV energy. A grid- tied PV inverter is a device
that converts the direct current into alternating current. The converted power can be used in
the house appliances or ejected into the electrical grid. You can use a grid- tied inverter
between the local power generators and the power grid.
To ensure safety and effectiveness when injecting electrical power into the grid, a grid- tied
solar inverter should accurately match the phase and voltage of the sine wave alternating
current waveform in the power grid.
Solar meter ( for on grid system)
Solar Meter means a uni- directional energy meter installed at the consumers premises as an
integral part of the net metering system and used solely to record the electricity generated by
the solar energy systems and delivered to the main panel of the eligible consumer.
Batter System ( off grid system)
AC Distribution Box
The ACDB ( Alternative Current Distribution Box) is a small solar device that is installed
between the solar inverter and your home load. An ACDB includes necessary surge
protection devices ( SPD), AC fuse, and MCB to protect the appliances from any type of
electrical damage or high voltages.
DC Distribution Box
DCDB is also known as array Junction Box ( AJB) it is a small solar protection device that is
installed between solar panel and a solar inverter. If any disturbance occurs from the side of
the solar panels the DC fuse inside the DCDB will melt and protect the equipment of the
solar system from being damaged.
Lightning arrestors
Lightning arrestors, or surge arresters since in this case the terms are somewhat
interchangeable are devices that are installed to protect homes, structures, and power line
from dangerous surges of power.
Copper Rod
System Design
Site Survey is necessary to design a correct and profitable solar energy generation system for
the owner of the system. The location of solar panels, their direction, or retention and the
potential of sunlight plays an important role in determining the amount of energy you can
generate from the sun. A site survey is a mandatory step in the overall solar process. Our
sales manager will visit your site to conduct a site survey after which our engineering and
design team creates a customized solution from the detailed data gathered.
Checklist Before the Site Survey

Measuring tape

Pen

Clipboard

Phone and camera

Shade assessment tool

Ladder

Appropriate PEE(personal protective equipment)

Brochure

Sample data sheets

Domestic content information
Learned Installation During Internship
9 Kw Solar System Installation
3 Kw Solar System Installation
10 Kw Solar System Installation
7. Assessment of the Internship
7.1 Skills and Qualifications Gained:
During my internship at Namibian Engineering Corporation (NEC), I gained both
technical and professional skills that have greatly enhanced my qualifications. I developed
hands-on skills in the installation and commissioning of solar energy systems, including
working with tools, wiring, inverters, and battery systems. I also improved my understanding
of solar technologies such as mono- and polycrystalline panels, grid-tied and off-grid
systems, and safety procedures. Additionally, I gained soft skills such as teamwork,
communication, time management, and problem-solving under pressure.
7.2 Responsibilities Undertaken:
My main responsibilities during the internship included assisting with the installation of solar
systems, conducting site surveys, performing basic electrical wiring, and helping with the
commissioning of completed systems. I was also involved in equipment handling,
maintaining safety standards, and supporting engineers with daily tasks. At times, I took the
lead in assembling components and connecting systems under supervision, which boosted my
confidence and independence.
7.3 Influence on Future Career Plans:
This internship has had a significant impact on my future career plans. It confirmed my
interest in renewable energy, particularly in solar technologies. I am now more motivated to
pursue a career in electrical or energy engineering, with a focus on sustainable and innovative
solutions. The experience helped me identify my strengths and areas I need to improve,
guiding me toward further specialization or possible entrepreneurship in the renewable
energy sector.
7.4 Connection with Classroom Knowledge:
The internship strongly complemented the theoretical knowledge I gained in the classroom.
Concepts such as electricity generation, circuit design, energy efficiency, and system
planning were applied practically during my time at NEC. I was able to see the real-life
application of many subjects I had studied, which deepened my understanding and
appreciation of my coursework. It also helped bridge the gap between theory and practice,
making learning more meaningful and practical.
CONCLUSIONS
I gained a lot of field experience from NEC,I can proudly say I can install a whole solar
system on my own with all the wiring and commicianing of it. I just did not learn how to
install but also how to opperate a lot of power tools,it was hard at first but with the help of
my colleques and supervisors I managed.
RECOMMENDATION
Based on my experience during the internship at Namibian Engineering Corporation (NEC), I
would like to make the following recommendations:

Continued Intern Support and Training: NEC should continue providing hands-on
training opportunities for interns, especially in technical areas like solar system
installation, wiring, and commissioning. Structured mentorship programs can further
enhance learning outcomes.

Extended Internship Duration: A slightly longer internship period would allow
interns to gain more comprehensive knowledge and deeper experience, especially in
system design and troubleshooting.

Exposure to Administrative and Project Management Roles: In addition to
technical tasks, interns should be given exposure to the administrative and project
planning aspects of NEC operations to gain a more holistic understanding of the
renewable energy sector.

Post-Internship Opportunities: NEC could consider offering internship completion
certificates, recommendation letters, or even possible employment pathways for
outstanding interns who show commitment and technical skill.
Feedback and Evaluation System: Regular evaluations and constructive feedback during
the internship can help interns identify areas for improvement and growth.
APPENDIX