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
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