Page 13 - AfrElec Week 37 2022
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AfrElec HYDROGEN AfrElec
HDF Energy’s Namibia green
hydrogen plant to open by 2024
NAMIBIA AFRICA’S first green hydrogen power plant, enjoys long hours of sun and wants to harness its
being built by French independent power pro- vast potential for solar and wind energy to pro-
ducer HDF Energy in Namibia will start produc- duce green hydrogen and position the country as
ing by 2024, a senior company executive has said, a renewable energy hub in Africa.
Reuters reports. Hydrogen is categorised “green” when it is
“Yearly we can produce 142 gigawatt hours, made with renewable power and is seen as key
enough for 142,000 inhabitants and that is con- to help decarbonise industry, though the tech-
servative,” Nicolas Lecomte, HDF Energy direc- nology remains immature and relatively costly.
tor for Southern Africa, said on September 12. The project will see 85MW of solar panels
Once operational, the $181.25mn Swakop- powering electrolysers to produce hydrogen that
mund project will supply clean electricity power, can be stored.
24 hours a day all year round, boosting electric- HDF Energy is also eyeing new projects
ity supply in the southern African nation which across Africa and other parts of the world.
imports more than a third of its needs from “Soon after Southern Africa, you will see HDF
neighbouring South Africa. developing projects in East Africa,” Lecomte told
Namibia is largely a desert country that Reuters.
Week 37 15•September•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P13
