The Namibia Green Hydrogen Program (GH2N) says most projects are in protected areas because of the wind quality.
GH2N explains that for the efficient production of green hydrogen, a constant green energy supply to the electrolyser is required, hence the combination of wind and solar energy.
Namibia has some of the best solar irradiation levels in the world, with over 3,000 hours of sunshine annually and significant wind capacity along its northern and southern coasts.
These abundant renewable resources are crucial for powering the electrolysis process to produce green hydrogen.
Namibia has high wind capacity potential along its northern and southern coast, with about 56 to 58% wind capacity factors.
Namibia’s consistent wind patterns provide an ample renewable energy source that can complement solar power.
Wind farms can be established to generate electricity that contributes to the hydrogen production process.
It says that the Namibian coast is covered by national parks, from the Tsau //Khaeb National Park in the south to the Namib Naukluft, Dorob, and Skeleton Coast National Parks.
According to GH2N, the coastal zone is the location of the natural resource required to produce green hydrogen at a competitive scale.
GH2N says the highest wind quality is found in the south of Luderitz.
The proposed Hyphen Energy project in the Tsau // Khaeb National Park is approximately 4,000 km².
The total size of the Tsau // Khaeb National Park is approximately 22,000 km².
The initial and early layout of the Hyphen green hydrogen project in the Tsau // Khaeb National Park covers 150 km².
This includes the solar farm, the wind turbines, the hydrogen production site, the pipelines for desalinated water, hydrogen and ammonia, access roads, power transmission lines and port complex infrastructure.
The size of the two land parcels allocated to Hyphen under the Feasibility Implementation Agreement (FIA) to perform the feasibility study is approximately 4,000 km².
Van der Linden says In the Tsau //Khaeb National Park, formerly known as the Sperrgebiet, diamond mining has been the predominant economic activity for over 100 years.
Currently, Namdeb is mining for diamonds in the coastal zone, and there is ongoing exploration of other minerals, including critical raw minerals and rare earth elements.
Besides green hydrogen, several renewable energy projects are establishing feasibility, including a 300MW wind energy park for NamPower, with one REE project already under construction (Diaz Wind Power Station). Should Kudu Gas reach a final investment decision, the gas pipeline to the Gas-to-Electricity plant will run from Elisabeth Bay in Tsau //Khaeb National Park to the planned industrial complex in Luderitz.
Tourism concessions have been granted in the Tsau //Khaeb National Park, and some more are under consideration.
In the Central Valley, the green hydrogen and related projects are located on private or conservancy land and not in the national parks.
The principal economic activity in the Namib Naukluft National Park is tourism, prospecting for and mining high-value, nationally essential minerals.
Tourism is the main economic activity in the Dorob National Park.
In the Northern Valley, there are currently no planned green hydrogen projects.
The principal economic activities in Skeleton Coast Park are tourism, prospecting, and mining.
