EIF and Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG commence Green Hydrogen Feasibility Study in Erongo Region   

The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) through the Green, Resilient Recovery Rapid Readiness Support in Namibia” (NAM-RS-004) project has contracted Fichtner GmbH & Co.KG to assess the viability of green hydrogen production and its derivatives in the Central Hydrogen Valley. This central region includes the Erongo, Khomas and Otjozondjupa regions which are home to a large portion of Namibia’s workforce. It is also well positioned from an infrastructure perspective with road, rail and port facilities linking the three (and farther afield) regions other benefit of the region present to the GH landscape is the abundance of solar resource. It is envisaged that this region become a “hub” to produce Synfuels and related green hydrogen equipment manufacturing facilities.

A feasibility study is a preliminary systematic assessment of all critical elements of the project, it assesses the technologies and costs as well as environmental and social impacts that can emerge from the Green Hydrogen projects. It is a screening study aimed at identifying the most promising idea(s) and discarding the unattractive options, ultimately saving resources both time and in monetary terms.

On the 26th of October 2023, the EIF of Namibia and Fichtner paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Erongo region to provide a briefing on the feasibility study. The aim of the visit was to provide the Governor with an extensive view of the deliverables expected at the end of this feasibility study which is funded under the readiness Programme of the GCF. Christina Mansfeld, a representative of Fichtner provided an overview of the expected results at the end of the study ranging from conducting a desktop/high-level “Environmental and Social Impact Assessment” (ESIA) focusing mostly on white mapping and red flag report, identifying zones within the available land for the solar PV and onshore wind potential, it further identify hydrogen and hydrogen-derivative production potential and associated estimated production costs for the identified zones. The study also aims to evaluate potential enablers towards an economic and social integration of Green Hydrogen and derivatives for the central hydrogen valley. “It will also be imperative to include in the final feasibility report the cumulative environmental impacts both negative and positive as of having too many green hydrogen projects in one region” said Hon. Neville André Itope, Erongo Governor. Christina added, “a strategy plan will be developed based on the available land, potential of solar PV and onshore wind, hydrogen potential and public versus private infrastructure options and economics, enablers, regional integration options, green industrialization options”

The governor expressed his appreciation to the EIF of Namibia for the continued effort in mobilizing resources but also for continuously seeing potential and investing in the Erongo region through various projects ‘’We are honoured to be one of the regions in Namibia that is benefiting from the Green Hydrogen project, we are looking forward to the report upon the completion of the study’’. He also outlined the significance of environmental and biodiversity am also hopeful that the report will be detailed enough to also touch on how biodiversity can be preserved in these areas of exploration for GH.

The NAM-RS-004 project is one of the Six (6) readiness programmes that are implemented by Namibia and different stakeholders and implementing partners. The RS-004 executing entity is the Office of the President’s in specific the Performance Delivery Unit (PDU) with support of the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF). The National Planning Commission (NPC) as well as the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) are the other key stakeholders identified in the implementation of this project. The funds valued at Three Hundred Thousand USD (300,000.00 USD) were mobilized from the Green Climate Fund (GCF)-readiness programme through the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism as the National Designated Authority (NDA) to GCF. The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) as an accredited entity to the GCF, is the delivery partner for this project.