Namibia’s green hydrogen sector might have to turn to desalination as an alternative to generate sufficient water resources required for production, amid water scarcity in the country experts have noted.
This comes as the green hydrogen sector would increase the country’s water demand, a commodity that is currently scarce.
“To produce just 1 kilogram of green hydrogen, approximately 10 kilograms of water are needed through the electrolysis process. Given the scarcity of groundwater, sustainable and adequate water sources must be identified locally. Options such as seawater desalination plants and water re-use concepts are being considered to meet the increasing water demand for hydrogen production in the future,” DECHEMA e.V., Senior Advisor of Water Management, Daniel Frank said.
Frank was stating the findings of a comprehensive report conducted on behalf of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) by the GreeN-H2-Namibia project conducted in order to gain insights into water sourcing, treatment requirements, and associated impacts.
He said scientists and consultants from Germany’s DECHEMA and ISOE institutions are assessing the viability of a green hydrogen industry and its derivatives, such as ammonia, as well as innovative seawater desalination technologies, with funding from the German’s BMBF.
“The project further aims to address the water demand challenges associated with hydrogen production through electrolysis, considering Namibia’s status as the driest country in the sub-Saharan region,” he said.
“All aspects we found during our initial desk study will now be evaluated by stakeholders involved in the production of green hydrogen and the regional and communal authorities, responsible for infrastructural issues,” Frank said.
During the workshop, another critical topic of discussion was brine mining.
“This process involves the extraction of valuable minerals and metals from the residue of desalination plants. Recognizing the significance of resource management and the potential impact of brine on the ocean, the workshop provided a platform to explore the integration of brine mining into future plans,” said the advisor.
The findings from the workshop will be published, enabling further discussions and stakeholder engagement.
The GreeN-H2 Namibia project team, comprising experts from DECHEMA and ISOE, are committed to traveling regularly to Namibia to monitor the progress of pilot projects.
Frank said the primary objectives include knowledge transfer among stakeholders throughout the green hydrogen value chain and selective publication of studies to disseminate valuable insights.
This comes in a bid to strengthen the German-Namibian Hydrogen partnership, Bettina Stark-Watzinger, the German Federal Minister of Education and Research handed over grants worth almost €30 million for four pilot projects funded by the BMBF.
These projects focus on the production and use of green hydrogen and are expected to present initial results by the end of 2023.
The continuous collaboration between Germany and Namibia holds promise for advancing the green hydrogen industry and addressing global climate challenges as the project team’s next trip to Namibia is scheduled for 26 June to 7 July 2023.
Experts from Germany who have embarked on a two-year study to analyse the establishment of a hydrogen economy in Namibia say that the availability of water could be a hurdle to the production of green hydrogen.
