GreeN-H2 Namibia – Feasibility study on green hydrogen in Namibia

The GreeN-H2 Namibia project is investigating the feasibility of producing, converting and transporting green hydrogen in Namibia. The aim is to identify and analyse the potentials, but also social and ecological risks as well as transformation barriers concerning a green hydrogen development in Namibia. The project results should facilitate the development of recommendations for action and enable a sustainable and socially just hydrogen value chain.

Research approach

The GreeN-H2 Namibia feasibility study aims to analyse the potentials and risks of a green hydrogen industry in Namibia at national and regional level. To this end, the project partners are analysing aspects of planning and implementation that are essential for the development of a green hydrogen economy. At the same time, they are looking at risks and barriers that could stand in the way of sustainable development. The aim is to devise concepts and measures that promote the sustainable and socially just development of a green hydrogen economy in Namibia.

The project has three focal points: (a) project management, stakeholder dialogues and collaboration, (b) technical aspects of implementation options and (c) transformation and social-ecological impacts. Within the project, ISOE is responsible for transformation management and social-ecological impact assessment. It will develop desirable and sustainable future scenarios, identify the associated transformation paths and will record the social-ecological impacts, risks, and vulnerabilities of a green hydrogen economy.

The transdisciplinary approach of GreeN-H2 Namibia ensures the participation of Namibian stakeholders from government, industry, civil society and science. The knowledge gained from the feasibility study will serve as a decision-making tool for stakeholders concerned with the planning and implementation of a green hydrogen value chain. The results from GreeN-H2 Namibia relating to the technical, economic, institutional, social, and ecological feasibility of establishing a green hydrogen economy will be compiled as recommendations for action directed at Namibian and German stakeholders. The aim is thus to contribute to the sustainable implementation of a green hydrogen economy.

Background

Green hydrogen is a climate-neutral energy carrier that plays a key role in achieving international climate targets and in significantly advancing the process of decarbonisation in Germany. The focus is primarily on countries of the “Global South”, as the production of green hydrogen requires a large amount of sun, wind and, above all, land. Namibia and Germany have had a green hydrogen partnership since 2021. Additionally, Namibia is pursuing ambitious goals for the development of a green hydrogen production. In this context, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has provided 40 million euros to invest in pilot projects, strategy papers and educational programmes. Namibia’s high solar and wind potential as well as its extensive, unspoilt areas of land make it an attractive location for the production of green hydrogen. The ongoing developments are to be scientifically monitored, scrutinised and analysed in order to identify the societal and environmental risks associated with them and to recognise and overcome barriers that stand in the way of the sustainable development of this green technology.

Research and project partners

DECHEMA Gesellschaft für Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e.V.

Funding

The project “GreeN-H2 Namibia – Feasibility Study for Green Hydrogen in Namibia” is funded as part of the strategy for the expansion of international hydrogen partnerships of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).