[ cover story ]
Artist ’ s impression of the Hyphen project in Namibia , anticipated to be one of the world ’ s largest green hydrogen developments , aiming to produce green hydrogen and ammonia for export using the country ’ s extensive renewable resources
for us . Hydrogen ’ s future success depends on it being produced , transported , and utilised safely . If we want the market to grow and public trust to follow , these standards are absolutely essential .
Technical and infrastructure challenges What are some of the technical considerations when developing green hydrogen projects in these regions ? Sebastian Surie : When we assess a green hydrogen project , several technical aspects need to be carefully considered . First and foremost is the availability of renewable energy – both solar and wind – which is abundant in Namibia and South Africa . The cost , reliability , and availability of renewable energy are the primary factors influencing the overall cost of green hydrogen . Namibia , for example , offers some of the lowest cost solar in the world due to its geographic location .
We also need to think about water availability . Electrolysis requires a steady supply of water . In a place like Namibia , which is arid , this can be a challenge . However , desalination of seawater is a practical solution that can be adopted and aligns well with Namibia ’ s coastal geography .
Another major consideration is the infrastructure for transporting hydrogen and its derivatives to markets . Hydrogen itself is difficult to transport due to its low density , so converting it into ammonia or hydrogen-based products like green fertilisers or green steel makes transport easier and more practical . This means the projects we are working on need to be close to infrastructure , such as ports , that can handle the transport of ammonia and related products for export . The infrastructure is just as important as the hydrogen production process itself – if not more so – because it ultimately determines how scalable and economically viable a project is .
Willem Frens : Finally , the choice of electrolyser technology , as well as the downstream plants , play a significant role . Right now , we are working with a range of electrolyser technologies including PEM , alkaline , and potentially SOEC in the future . Each of these technologies has its own advantages . PEM electrolysers , for instance , are well-suited for regions with intermittent renewable energy supply because they can handle fluctuations in electricity . Alkaline electrolysers , on the other hand , are more established and tend to have lower capital costs . SOEC is emerging as a promising technology due to its higher efficiency , but it is still early in its commercialisation phase .
Hydrogen Tech World | Issue 19 | December 2024 11