Maximizing Opportunities for Green Hydrogen in Namibia: Assessing Risks and Policy Recommendations
Key Ideas
  • Namibia is positioned as a competitive location for solar and wind energy to produce green hydrogen, attracting interest from European countries for imports, offering prospects for economic growth.
  • Exporting green ammonia presents immediate opportunities, with potential for diversification into other markets like sustainable aviation fuel and green fertiliser, contingent on addressing uncertainties for international investors.
  • Scaling up hydrogen projects in Namibia requires careful risk-sharing agreements with international investors to mitigate political and environmental risks, ensuring transparency and maximizing societal benefits for Namibians.
  • Policy recommendations include exploring pro-poor use of revenues from hydrogen projects through options such as direct dividend payments to citizens, earmarking public revenues for development funds, and co-ownership of energy projects.
The discussion paper from the German Institute of Development and Sustainability highlights Namibia's potential as a competitive hub for renewable energy, specifically solar and wind, to produce green hydrogen and derivatives essential for global decarbonization. Namibia's government and European countries are optimistic about the industrial complex's prospects in the country. The paper emphasizes the societal benefits of scaling up renewable projects in Namibia, including domestic electrification, clean electricity exports, and the production of hydrogen and derivatives for economic growth and foreign exchange earnings. Challenges like uncertainties with international offtake agreements and risk factors pose hurdles for international investors, requiring gradual scaling-up and risk-sharing agreements. Political and environmental risks accompany hydrogen investments, necessitating transparency, strict rules for tenders, and carefully designed benefit-sharing agreements to prevent exclusive deals and ensure widespread benefits for Namibians. Policy recommendations advocate for exploring pro-poor uses of hydrogen project revenues to enhance socio-economic spillovers and maximize benefits for local communities.
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