Implementation of the JCoI on Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen between Namibia and Germany
The Government of the Republic of Namibia and the Government of the Republic of Germany recognise that they have a common interest in the energy sector, specifically in green hydrogen. The two countries are mindful of the valuable cooperation in research over many years, as well as the significant capability of both countries in the production, storage, transport and use of green hydrogen. Both countries have strengthened their bilateral cooperation in the field of energy resources on the basis of mutual social, economic and environmental benefit in order to promote sustainable development.
The energy transition to zero-emission energy in Namibian will be achieved by developing green hydrogen production capacities, promote a rapid market ramp-up and establish the corresponding value chains – on both the national and international scale. Through bilateral agreement the Namibian Government and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) signed a Joint Communiqué of Intent (JCOI) on the 25th August 2021, to provide funds for the Namibian strategy project, pilot plant projects and its accompanying research and capacity development projects. The JCOI is worth capital expense of €40 million over five years beginning in January 2022.
The partnership seeks to invest efforts on green hydrogen energy in the Namibian nation which will have a positive catalytic effect on Southern Africa’s energy sector. The presence of climate friendly natural resources; key to green hydrogen energy such as wind and sun are fully manifest in Namibia and this is an opportunity that can spear head three notable solutions to the SADC regional problems namely climate management, energy crisis and sustainable economic development.
This cooperation isn’t the first in SADC; BMBF has funded the production of green hydrogen generation potential in SADC. The H2Atlas Africa project is coordinated by SASSCAL in 12 countries in SADC.
‘Water will one day be employed as fuel, that hydrogen and oxygen which constitute it, used singly or together, will furnish an inexhaustible source of heat and light, of an intensity of which coal is not capable. Someday the coal-rooms of steamers and the tenders of locomotives will, instead of coal, be stored with these two condensed gases, which will burn in the furnaces with enormous calorific power.’ Jules Verne, 1874
