(Berlin) - The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding four green hydrogen projects in Namibia with 2023 million euros from 30. The country is the first in the world with whose government such a state cooperation agreement has been concluded.
In August 2021, the BMBF agreed on a hydrogen partnership between Germany and Namibia. Experts from both countries extracted the four projects from the resulting 26 concrete project outlines for German-Namibian pilot projects. It is important that “despite a high level of industry participation, the projects also include a significant proportion of research and development work,” says the ministry.
Application-oriented projects
Two of the projects favor a concept for the application of green hydrogen in the port area of Walvis Bay on the Namibian east coast, which should enable the transition to low-emission port operations. In a project, hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks, locomotives and tractors will be used on a large scale in Africa for the first time. The other project is investigating the possibilities of on-site hydrogen refueling and the use of a mobile filling station on hose trailers. A training center is also planned.
The third project to be launched is H2 dual fuel technology for locomotives. The aim is to develop and put into operation the first locomotive in Africa that can be operated with diesel or alternatively with hydrogen. This project builds on existing projects for the production and delivery of green hydrogen in Namibia.
The fourth project takes a comprehensive approach that covers “many facets of the hydrogen economy”: solar power, wind power, seawater desalination, AEM electrolysis, filling station systems, fuel cells, hydrogen use in buildings, industry and mobility, as well as hydrogen storage, among others, are taken into account.
The BMBF also supports the development of a national hydrogen strategy as well as the training and further education of local specialists through scholarship programs. The Ministry of Research did not name the specific project partners for the four selected projects.
Many interested parties are pushing ahead with plans
As reported, there are already a number of international companies that are planning and have initiated hydrogen projects in Namibia. This is what the French independent power producer wants Hydrogen de France Energy Pty Ltd. (HDF Energy) will build a 2024 megawatt hydrogen power plant and solar systems near the port city of Swakopmund by 24. There is also a desalination plant around six kilometers from the power plant. Investments amount to more than three billion Namibian dollars (180 million euros).
In Walvis Bay, half an hour's drive south of Swakopmund, the Ohlthaver & List Group and the Belgian CMB Tech Ltd. Build a demonstration plant for the production of green hydrogen to operate a gas station.
And Hyphen Hydrogen Energy Pty Ltd. even wants to invest ten billion dollars (9,91 billion euros) to build plants by the end of the decade that will produce around 350.000 tons of green hydrogen annually for regional and global markets. The output of the electrolyzers is estimated at three gigawatts, which are fed with renewable electricity from power plants with an installed capacity of five to six gigawatts.
Green hydrogen for export
According to the BMBF, Namibia is “one of the most promising countries” for the cheap production of green hydrogen and its derivatives. Due to its low population density and moderate population development, it will be able to quickly cover its own needs for renewable energy and green hydrogen. The country aims to export green hydrogen before 2025.
Photos
Namibia receives support from many quarters in developing a hydrogen economy. © Hyphen Hydrogen Energy (Pty) Ltd
