Namibia's Ambitions for Green Hydrogen: Challenges and Opportunities
Key Ideas
- Namibia aims to produce one million metric tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030, requiring a significant increase in electricity generation.
- The country needs to invest in renewable energy to meet its long-term hydrogen production targets and reduce reliance on costly imported power.
- Despite having abundant solar energy potential, only a small percentage of households in Namibia use solar energy, indicating the need for increased adoption.
- Challenges include high electricity costs, lack of universal energy access, and the necessity for substantial investments to meet future energy targets.
Namibia has set ambitious goals for green hydrogen production, targeting one million metric tonnes by 2030. To achieve this, the country needs to generate five times its current electricity production. The International Energy Agency highlights the necessity for approximately 50 terrawatt-hours of electricity to run the electrolysers for hydrogen production. Furthermore, long-term targets for 2040 and 2050 would require significantly larger investments, with 250 TWh and 500 TWh of electricity needed respectively. Namibia's heavy reliance on costly imported power has led to high electricity costs, with more than 62% of total power demand being imported in 2021. While the country has abundant renewable energy sources, increasing access to electricity remains a challenge, with about 45% of the population lacking access, falling short of UN Sustainable Development Goal 7.1. Despite favorable conditions for solar energy, the adoption of solar panels in households is low, with less than 10% utilizing solar energy for daily needs. Addressing these challenges will require substantial investments in renewable energy infrastructure and a concerted effort to improve energy access and affordability for all Namibians.
Topics
Investing
Renewable Energy
Investment
Electricity Demand
Sustainable Development
Solar Energy
Energy Access
Latest News