Namibia's Green Hydrogen Ambitions and Environmental Concerns
A near pristine desert and coastal wilderness in Namibia is poised to host a large hydrogen production facility, generating optimism for employment opportunities but also raising concerns about the impact on the region's unique flora and fauna, including rare succulents and endangered African penguins.
This initiative is part of Namibia's government strategy to become a leading green hydrogen exporter, supplying a clean-burning fuel that could contribute to reducing emissions globally.
Hyphen, a joint venture led by the Germany-based green energy company Enertrag, highlights Namibia's "world class" solar and wind resources as ideal for large-scale, cost-competitive hydrogen production.
Hydrogen is a highly flammable gas that produces heat and water upon combustion. It is utilized in refining petroleum and manufacturing chemicals, metals, and fertilizers. Typically produced using fossil fuels, hydrogen generated via renewable energy sources is classified as "green".
However, plans to develop solar and wind farms within Namibia's Tsau ǁKhaeb National Park—meaning "Soft Sands" in the Nama language—have met opposition from conservation groups.
The 26,000 sq km (10,000 sq mile) park was established in 2004 from the former "Sperrgebiet" (German for "Restricted Area"), a vast territory sealed off by German colonial authorities to protect diamond mining interests discovered in the early 20th century.
The diamond rush eventually subsided, allowing a unique diversity of flora and fauna to flourish undisturbed. The Namibian Chamber of the Environment (NCE) warns that this biodiversity is now at risk.
Succulents, in particular, have adapted to survive in this harsh environment through strategies such as water storage and light reflection.
The NCE released a report suggesting the project should be termed "red hydrogen" due to its potential to push many unique species onto the biodiversity "red list."
"The Germans would never allow their top parks to be turned into industrial sites,"said Chris Brown, head of the NCE.
"But they seem to be quite happy to offshore not only the risk, but also the impacts on biodiversity to Namibia. And we find that totally unacceptable."
This coastal region is part of the Namibian Islands' Marine Protected Area, a 400 km (250 mile) stretch that is home to critically endangered African penguins.
The Namibian Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds (Namcob), based in the port town of Lüderitz, has also expressed concerns.
Lüderitz, a quiet South Atlantic port where fishing has long been the economic mainstay, is expected to undergo significant expansion if the hydrogen project proceeds.
"Where they plan to expand the port is a particularly bio-sensitive hotspot,"said Neil Shaw of Namcob from his office near a lagoon frequented by flamingos.
"That can have quite severe ramifications on the marine ecosystem that the penguins and other coastal birds rely on."
Hyphen asserts it is taking measures to minimize disturbance to critical ecosystems by avoiding the most sensitive areas and maintaining the smallest possible footprint.
Toni Beukes, head of environment, social and governance at Hyphen, stated that impact assessments are underway and that the park represents the optimal location for their plans.
"The south is where you have a co-location of fantastic wind and solar resources. Namibia has to compete with other projects globally and that's where your competitive advantage lies,"she said.
Although still in the feasibility phase, the proposed investment is already influencing Lüderitz, according to Phil Balhao, the town's mayor until last year.
"We're seeing new investments, new opportunities, new services and amenities that never would have come down to Lüderitz,"he remarked.
Job creation is critical given Namibia's official youth unemployment rate of 44%.
The project’s scale is substantial. The Namibian government holds a 24% stake in the initiative.
Hyphen aims to initially generate 3.75 gigawatts of renewable electricity, sufficient to power nearly 400 million LED bulbs.
This electricity will power electrolysers, technology that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen.
Due to hydrogen's transportation challenges, pipelines will convey the gas to the coast where it will be converted into ammonia, which can be liquefied more easily and later converted back.
By the end of 2028, Hyphen targets production of one million tonnes of ammonia.
The total investment exceeds $10 billion (£7.4 billion), compared to Namibia's entire annual economic output of just over $13 billion.
Youth activists have expressed skepticism about the long-term benefits due to a lack of detailed information, although they welcome potential jobs and electricity access.
"You have to ask what type of job, what are the criteria that are needed? We need to be specific so that we're able to prepare ourselves,"said Junior Mutaleni.
Hyphen estimates 15,000 jobs will be created during construction and 3,000 permanent jobs during operation. The company is conducting a nationwide survey to assess local skills.
Beukes emphasized that while the company is committed to prioritizing Namibian employment, this will not happen immediately.
"We have to be pragmatic. It is one of the biggest projects in the world,"she said.
Local activist Luciel Adams highlighted the need to respect a rocky peninsula near Lüderitz that was the site of the Shark Island concentration camp, where thousands of Nama and Herero people were killed during the 1904-1908 German colonial genocide.
"People used to be fed to the sharks as slaves there, so there's a lot of raw, hurtful history. People's identity lies in that place,"Adams said.
Graham Hopwood of Namibia's Institute for Public Policy Research stressed the importance of full community engagement.
"For the people of Lüderitz, this could vastly change the town, so they need to be involved."
Smaller green hydrogen projects have already commenced in Namibia. The HyIron plant in the west produces pure iron from ore for steelmaking using renewable energy instead of fossil fuels.
The final investment decision on Hyphen's multi-billion-dollar project is expected by the end of 2026.
Some Lüderitz residents, including former mayor Balhao, disagree with environmentalists, emphasizing the town's need for investment.
"It would really unlock Lüderitz and the south of Namibia massively,"he said.
Despite decades of isolation, Balhao expressed confidence in the town's resilience.
"We're ready to adapt and move on to whatever is next."
You can listen to the full documentary Namibia's hydrogen superpower dream on the BBC World Service.
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