Germany to fund four green hydrogen projects in Namibia

Yemi Olakitan

Namibia has shown an admirable degree of ingenuity, tenacity, and desire to open up new chances to industrialize, create employment, and attract local and international private sector capital and expertise to produce socio-economic benefits. The nation is currently attracting interest from abroad as it works to protect the environment.

The governments of Germany and Namibia have agreed to speed up research, development, and production of green hydrogen. Reports say that the German investors have already started to stake out positions in Namibia’s green hydrogen sector.

Namibia media says the German government will contribute funding for four green hydrogen pilot projects worth approximately N$500 million in Namibia (30 million euros). The University of Namibia (Unam), the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport), the Ohlthaver & List Group, and TransNamib are a few of the recipients.

Namibia may even be able to subsidise the improvement of its physical transmission grid through projects designed for the production of hydrogen, lowering the cost to the country’s coffers or current power users.

Namibia may even be able to subsidise the strengthening of its physical transmission grid through renewable energy projects designed for hydrogen production, lowering the cost to the country’s coffers or current power users.

The German government will provide money for four green hydrogen pilot projects in Namibia totaling about N$500 million (30 million euros). Among the grantees are TransNamib, the University of Namibia (Unam), the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport), and the Ohlthaver & List Group. The initiatives include a trial for a hydrogen dual fuel locomotive, a refuelling station at Walvis Bay, and applications for green hydrogen in agriculture and ports.

James Mnyupe, the president’s economic adviser and commissioner for hydrogen, announced a 30 million euro grant from the German ministry of education during the Namibia Green Hydrogen Conference 2022. The Economic Association of Namibia (EAN), Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), and Hanns Seidel Foundation collaborated to arrange the conference (HSF).

Germany will provide Namibia with assistance and €40 million to increase its production of green hydrogen in exchange for a future low-cost supply of the gas under the signed agreement.

“The race for the finest hydrogen technology and the best locations for hydrogen generation has already begun. Namibia, in our opinion, has exceptionally strong possibilities in this contest. Anja Karliczek, the minister of research of Germany, said, “We want to use them jointly.

Zawya Projects stated in June that it would only be choosing five of the 25 pilot project bids that Namibia has received.

The four initiatives—Daures, Namport, Cleanergy, and TransNamib—have a total estimated cost of approximately N$890 million (53,39 million euros), with a portion of the funding coming from the project’s creators. The Erongo region, designated as “valley 1” of the envisioned national hydrogen ecosystem, will be the site of the four projects.

Regarding the four projects, the following details:

Agriculture will be the primary focus of the project, which aims to construct a green-scheme programme for ammonia nitrate crops, the storage and transportation of green hydrogen, ammonia, and related derivatives, as well as the creation of fuel cell-operated centre pivots, boreholes, and homes. A 1.5 gigawatt green hydrogen plant is anticipated to produce 508 kg of green ammonia every day during the first phase.