Namibia: Greenlight for solar-powered hydrogen project

Solar PV site is strategically located in a semi-desert location with strong solar radiation and limited biodiversity

The Namibian government has greenlit the Walvis Bay solar-powered green hydrogen project in the Namib Naukluft Park, Erongo Region, following the issuance of an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC).

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) approved the application to Zhero Molecules Walvis Bay for its 3GW solar development.

According to the Environmental and Social Management Plan report on the project, Zhero is developing a multi-gigawatt (GW) green hydrogen and green ammonia project called the zhero Molecules Walvis Bay (zMWB) project just outside the Namib Naukluft Park in the Erongo Region of Namibia. 

The project will manufacture green ammonia viaelectrolysis, using electricity to split water (H₂O) into hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂). 

The report stated that the electricity utilised in the electrolysis process will be generated from a renewable energy source; for the purpose of this project, the renewable energy source is the 3GW solar PV facility, which will serve to ensure that the ammonia produced is carbon-free and sustainable.

Solar PV site strategically located in a semi-desert location in Namibia

According to the document, in line with national permitting and international financing requirements, the zMWB Project has been split into three packages as outlined below. 

• Solar PV Site and overhead Transmission Line (OHTL) 
• Desalination plant and pipelines 
• Green hydrogen and ammonia plant 

The solar PV site, the subject of the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) report, consists of the following project components: 

• 3GW solar PV panel array 
• Construction / upgrade of new and existing access roads and associated servitude(s) 
• Approximately 110km of OHTL to the green hydrogen and ammonia plant and the associated servitude(s) 
• Substation and transformers 
• Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

The report states that the solar PV site is strategically located in a semi-desert location with strong solar radiation and limited biodiversity. It is also near key towns such as Walvis Bay, the country’s largest port.

The project is expected to contribute to regional and national economic growth through job creation and promoting socio-economic development. 

Meanwhile, the German power utility RWE announced last week that it had withdrawn from Namibia’s $10 billion Hyphen green ammonia project, citing slow European demand. “Against this backdrop, we have reviewed the relevant projects at RWE. “This included the project with Hyphen in Namibia,” they said.

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