Elof Hansson Hydrogen Namibia (Pty) Ltd is planning to develop a major green hydrogen and ammonia production facility in the Erongo Region.
The project will feature a 2,500MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, 70km of power lines, and a desalination plant.
The project is set to produce up to 430,000 tonnes of green ammonia annually, powered by a 2.1GW solar farm located on desert land near Walvis Bay.
The solar farm will supply electricity to the electrolysis, desalination and ammonia synthesis plants, using 83% of the generated energy for electrolysis, while 17% will power the other components.
The desalination facility will abstract 7,580 cubic metres of seawater daily, producing 2,160 cubic metres of distilled water for the hydrogen production process.
“The green hydrogen will be produced through an alkaline electrolysis process that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using electrical energy. This process will be entirely powered by clean energy, reinforcing Namibia’s potential as a leading producer of low-cost, sustainable hydrogen,” according to the project’s report seen by M&E.
The entire operation will be powered by the solar farm, ensuring a green and sustainable energy cycle throughout.
“The desalination plant is integral to producing hydrogen, providing the necessary distilled water for electrolysis. The facility will also rely entirely on solar energy, eliminating reliance on fossil fuels and minimizing its environmental footprint,” the report explains.
This comes as Namibia has globally leading conditions for green hydrogen production due to its vast desert land and high solar potential.
The company notes that by harnessing this natural resource, the country is positioned to contribute significantly to global decarbonisation efforts.
The development will also include a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to stabilise the electricity supply at night and during periods of low solar energy generation.
The BESS is critical for ensuring continuous operations for the ammonia synthesis and desalination plants.
“The Battery Energy Storage System will ensure a stable supply of electricity, particularly at night when solar generation ceases. This is crucial to maintain operations and ensure that energy remains available to power key project components,” the company said.
The hydrogen pipeline, which will connect the electrolysis plant to the ammonia synthesis plant, will span 70km.
The project will adhere to international standards for pipeline safety, including the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Hydrogen Piping and Pipelines (B31.12) 2019 standards, to prevent pipeline embrittlement due to hydrogen’s low density and flammability.
“Following ASME standards will be critical for ensuring the safe and reliable transport of hydrogen. These guidelines focus on preventing embrittlement and ensuring the structural integrity of the pipeline network over time.”
Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for the various components of the project are ongoing, ensuring that all potential environmental risks are addressed before construction begins.
