The Government of Namibia has selected four Power-to-X green hydrogen pilot projects that will receive upwards of €30 million in German-backed funding. The projects, selected out of 25 applications submitted in June this year, will all be located in Erongo and are set to kickstart the country’s hydrogen economy.
The first selected project includes a Cleanergy hydrogen refueling station located in Walvis Bay. The project comprises a 5MW solar photovoltaic (PV) system, a 5MW electrolyzer and a hydrogen refueling system.
With €25 million allocated to the project, the green hydrogen pilot will test technologies to develop offtake applications across the transportation, mining and port sectors, while at the same time facilitating skills and technology development. Following the outcome of the pilot project, a larger commercial ammonia production project will be planned.
The second project comprises a 1.5GW green hydrogen project that targets the production of 508kg of green ammonia per day in its first phase. €15.1 million has been allocated towards the project, with additional components including the establishment of a green hydrogen scheme for ammonia nitrate crop; the development of integrated application technologies for utilizing green hydrogen in a variety of sectors, such as agriculture, ammonia nitrate and cleaning detergents; and the developments of fuel cell operated center pivots, boreholes and houses.
The third project has been allocated €7.63 million and will see the development of a hydrogen dual fuel locomotive pilot. With the funding, the project will convert two locomotives in two different ways so that they operate on hydrogen and diesel. Carried out in collaboration with Namibian national rail services company, TransNamib, the project will test the locomotives along a 210km, one-way route from Walvis Bay to Kranzberg in 18 months.
Finally, the fourth project aims to test green hydrogen applications in the port. With €5.66 million allocated, this pilot project incorporates a 5MW electrolyzer as well as a hydrogen mobile refueller, converting existing tugboats and port equipment to operate on hydrogen dual fuel technology. Additionally, the project will develop green bunkering and refueling infrastructure. Developed in partnership with Cleanergy Solutions Namibia, CMB Germany, the Namibian Ports Authority and the University of Namibia, the project will also explore future Namibia-Germany cooperation regarding the entire hydrogen value chain.
Meanwhile, Namibia is planning the creation of four green hydrogen valleys, with plans having already been drawn up. The first valley will be located at Erongo and will comprise a solar-powered electrolysis system that will produce ammonia, as well as a terminal for synfuels export from Walvis Bay port. The second, located at Karas, will see a solar-onshore-wind hybrid facility that will produce ammonia for export. Exports will be done at the Luderitz and Oranjemund ports, with the ports connected via a hydrogen pipeline.
The third valley at Otjozondjupa will produce synfuel using carbon dioxide emitted by the cement industry, as well as solar-powered hydrogen as feedstock, also prepared for export from Walvis Bay. Finally, the fourth valley will be located at Kuene and will utilize a hybrid format made up of solar and wind-powered electrolysis to produce ammonia near a new port.
