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Namibia is home to the world’s oldest desert, some of the world’s largest dunes and breathtaking fauna and flora, but that’s not all. The country also has a unique landscape providing the perfect conditions to become a green hydrogen hub.

According to Hafeni Motsi, a senior energy investment analyst for Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, “Namibia sees herself as having the potential…to become the sustainable energy capital of Africa.”

Motsi, while speaking at Enlit Africa in Cape Town, provided key project updates and elaborated on the top three reasons why Namibia is a top attraction for green investment.

1 – The sun shines hot

Namibian sun shines up to 300 days per year and shines hot and bright with clear skies, says Motsi.

Besides the high PV potential, there are also significant levels of wind with capacity factors upwards of 50% in the Southwestern and Northwestern coastal areas.

“We have the perfect combination of renewable energy potential…to power electrolysers and desalination processes,” said Motsi.

2 – Available land

There are many natural and strategic areas along the coastline, according to Motsi, providing a great deal of uninhabited land.

This is perfect for heavy industrial activity such as hydrogen production and production of synthetic fuels.

3 – Namibia’s strategic trajectory

The country’s efforts to become a hub for the production of green hydrogen is a core pillar of a broader green industrialisation strategy, explained Motsi, making the country a sound strategic location for investment.

He said that as green hydrogen ramps up globally and becomes more competitively priced, less industrialised African nations need to look at how to take advantage of producing green electricity to stimulate growth of local industry and produce goods for export.

“Namibia is exploring how to further valorize or beneficiate these resources,” said Motsi, to ultimately decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors and logistics corridors that are currently under development.

Motsi explained that Namibia has a competitive case for producing green hydrogen.

Detailed feasibility studies are being conducted to verify competitive production, as well as confirm the potential avenues to market within the country and abroad.

Currently, he said, Namibia can produce green hydrogen at about $1.50/kg or less.

Motsi mentioned three pioneering green hydrogen projects making a mark in the country:

• HyIron – HyIron was established through a partnership of Namibian and German companies. The project is among the world’s largest green iron production sites. HyIron uses an innovative process to reduce iron ore in a rotary kiln with the help of green hydrogen, thus entirely carbon neutral. Every tonne of iron produced this way replaces 1.8 tonnes of CO2 in the traditional process.
• Dauras Green Hydrogen Village – The pilot proof of concept facility will produce 18 tonnes of green hydrogen and 100 tonnes of green ammonia and will be launched in Q3 2024.
• HyRail Project – In partnership with CMB.TECH, TransNamib, Traxtion and University of Namibia, the project will showcase the conversion of the first hydrogen-powered train in Africa, using dual-fuel hydrogen combustion technology and a pioneering hydrogen fuel tender car.