- Hydrogène de France (HDF) Energy has partnered with European Investment Bank partner to implement Namibia’s first green hydrogen power plant in Swakopmund.
- The US$181.25 million project will supply clean electricity power, 24 hours a day all-year round.
HDF plans to set up an 85 MW solar park relying on trackers and a green hydrogen unit based on electrolysers, fuel cells, and battery storage. It will also construct a transmission line and a hydrogen refuelling station. The site should also have a reverse osmosis desalination plant and a demineralization plant requiring the installation of a water pipeline.
The new green hydrogen cooperation was announced at the Namibian pavilion at COP27 by the President of the Republic of Namibia Hage Geingob; President of the European Investment Bank Dr Werner Hoyer; and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. “This partnership represents a concrete step in delivering Namibia’s clean energy ambition. This new investment demonstrates Namibia’s leadership in green hydrogen,” Geingob said at the launch.
HDF Energy Director for Southern and East Africa Nicolas Lecomte thanked the European Investment for their support of the Swakopmund development. “The signature today is a key step of our longstanding engagement with the EIB for the project, that takes us closer to reaching financial close in 2023 and starting construction of the first large scale green hydrogen project in Africa,” said Lecomte.
“Our agreement confirmed at COP27 today with HDF will help to accelerate large scale deployment of green hydrogen infrastructure in Namibia based on proven investment in South America,” said Hoyer.
Separately, a new sovereign loan facility of €500-million was announced by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Namibia President Dr Hage Geingob to develop the green hydrogen sector in the country.
The partnership aims to ensure the development of a secure and sustainable supply of raw materials, refined materials and renewable hydrogen to support the green and digital transformation of the partners’ economies. It deepens the cooperation in areas with mutual benefits for both parties. The partnership will promote local value addition in Namibia by supporting the development of the mining and renewable hydrogen value chains. It will support sustainable raw materials value chains and facilitate investment and funding opportunities to modernise the Namibian industries and drive economic and social development. Read more
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
