(Nairobi / Kenya) – Kenya has presented a roadmap for developing its green hydrogen industry through 2032 and beyond. The country is focusing on growing the Kenyan market and exports. It also has specific targets for reducing emissions, creating jobs, and attracting foreign direct investment.
The “Green Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap for Kenya” is available free of charge as a PDF (24 pages).
The strategy was jointly presented by Kenyan President William Ruto and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during the African Climate Summit (ACS23) in Nairobi. Global Gateway, an initiative of the European Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, was also involved in the development. With its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) program, Kenya aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a third by 2030. Around 90 percent of the country's electricity already comes from renewable resources, primarily geothermal energy. By 2030 it should be 100 percent.
Kenyan President William Ruto: “Green hydrogen is an important driver of the energy transition and facilitates the decarbonization of our industries and the entire economy.” © African Union (Sceneshot from the ACS23 opening event)
“The green hydrogen strategy prioritizes economic expansion, job creation and environmental protection. It sets the direction for Kenya to harness the potential of green hydrogen as a key driver of the energy transition,” said William Ruto. The green hydrogen economy will improve food security, including expanding green production of Kenya's tea, coffee, horticulture, floriculture and cereals. It will also facilitate “the decarbonization of our industries and the entire economy.”
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, at ACS23: “Kenya's goal of producing 2030 percent clean energy by 100 inspires other countries.” © African Union (Sceenshot)
“Kenya's ambitious goal of producing 2030 percent clean energy by 100 is an inspiration for other countries,” said Ursula von der Leyen. It will help reduce emissions, promote a strategic industry for the country's future and increase export capacity to partners such as the EU.
Climate investments in Kenya and Africa
The EU is providing almost twelve million euros to promote the Kenyan green hydrogen industry. A total of 3,4 billion euros will flow into Kenyan climate and environmental projects as part of Global Gateway's investment program. For example, the EU is funding the development and commissioning of the “Nairobi Clean Bus Rapid Transit Line 3”. Europe and Kenya are investing up to 350 million euros in this first purely electric bus line in East Africa.
Economic transformation and green growth: Green hydrogen can be used in several important sectors in Kenya, including industry, transport and energy, in particular as a raw material for the chemical industry, for example for the production of ammonia and methanol. © Green Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap for Kenya
Germany will support the hydrogen roadmap with a loan of 60 million euros. It is “an important step towards building a green and sustainable hydrogen sector in Kenya,” said Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Bärbel Kofler. In addition, a “Hydrogen Diplomacy Office” will soon be opened in Nairobi “to intensify our dialogue and cooperation”. During a visit to Nairobi in May, Chancellor Scholz promised the country two million euros to host the “Africa Climate Summit” (ACS23).
150 billion euros for the continent
The Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package aims to support Africa in its green and digital recovery. One focus of the 150 billion euro package is the production of clean hydrogen in Africa.
Across the African continent, massive use of renewable energy and clean hydrogen production would help ensure that at least 2030 gigawatts of electrolyzer capacity is available by 40. This would also contribute to the development of the renewable hydrogen sector by unlocking business opportunities on both the supply and demand sides for energy-intensive industries.
Substituting existing hydrogen imports (in the form of fertilizer or methanol) with domestically produced green alternatives will enable Kenya to promote the development of new industrial processes, reduce supply risks and reduce uncertainties associated with market price volatility, he said the politicians at the presentation of the paper.
Africa as a “green industrial center”
The ACS23 summit, which concluded yesterday, September 6, served as both preparation and a barometer of sentiment for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), which will take place in Dubai starting November 30. Kenyan President Ruto expressed great satisfaction with the outcome. "The Nairobi Declaration, our common position, and our firm decisions form the basis for a new solution for Africa."
The focus is therefore on the demand for global climate taxes and reforms of international institutions to support the financing of climate protection measures. Ruto has "placed himself at the forefront of a new narrative centered on Africa's transition to clean energy" because the continent is being severely impacted by climate-related disasters, according to Al Jazeera . Africa could be "a green industrial hub that helps other regions achieve their net-zero strategy by 2050," the paper quotes William Ruto as saying.
Climate summit result disappointing
Other local observers, however, consider the outcome of the African climate summit disappointing. The portal " Africa Science News " comments that "no one except the political class" is satisfied. The "overwhelming majority" of non-state actors are disillusioned by the summit's final declaration in Nairobi.
“We are particularly shocked that the statement, while acknowledging that 60 percent of the population in Africa are smallholder farmers, says nothing about their support and the promotion of agroecology, which is a real solution to the problem of climate change,” Nnimmo Bassey is quoted as saying , founder of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation. “The statement points to a dismal outcome from COP28.”
Muhammed Lamin Saidykh, Head of Building Power, CAN-International, expressed similar sentiments: “It is crucial for Africa to prioritize the development of renewable energy systems, electrification, infrastructure and technologies,” said the portal. There is concern “that some climate solutions are driven by Western interests that cannot benefit Africa.”
Maimoni Mariere Ubrei-Joe of Friends of the Earth Africa's Climate Justice and Energy Program said the Nairobi Declaration lacked ideas and was "just another pretty document that ends up on the shelves." Any solution “that allows business as usual for the fossil fuel industry and focuses on cleanup rather than closure of dirty energy sources” is doomed to failure and causes more harm to the environment and communities.
Thuli Makama from Oil Change International (OCI) calls on the African Union to be bold now and discuss the decolonization of Africa's energy sector. “We need strong and clear demands for reparations and system change.” It is time “for world leaders and financial institutions to invest the work and money to ensure that Africa makes a just transition to renewable energy rather than committing to more fossil fuels,” the OCI said -Chief Advisor for Africa.
The US alone has already approved $1,5 billion for fossil fuel projects this year, writes Claire O'Manique of OCI on X.com, despite its commitment to the "Stop Funding Fossils" policy. The basis for such decisions regarding fossil fuel projects is "not publicly verifiable."
Photos
The Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) in Nairobi was the central venue for the Africa Climate Summit that ended on September 6th. © Africa Climate Summit
