The International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) World Energy Transitions Outlook 2023 emphasizes the importance of complementary transitions in renewables-based electrification, energy efficiency, and direct uses of renewables in transport, industry, and buildings. These transitions offer a viable pathway to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) 1.5°C climate target, leveraging readily available technologies and measures.

SASSCAL is dedicated to strengthening the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) efforts to adapt and mitigate climate change. To achieve this, SASSCAL is committed to enhancing research and human capital development programs. The primary goal is to support the region and Africa as a whole in providing clean, safe, and reliable energy, thereby improving the lives of people in SADC countries.

At present, SASSCAL is supporting the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in coordinating and overseeing the green hydrogen and renewable energy initiatives in Southern Africa and the greater SADC region, including Namibia. As part of the coordination project, SASSCAL identifies enabling factors and facilitates the scale-up of pilot projects in SADC countries.

In pursuit of these objectives, SASSCAL and the University of Namibia (UNAM) have joined forces to successfully implement the Daures Green Hydrogen Village project. BMBF, through SASSCAL, has allocated Euro 400,000 to UNAM for academic and research activities focused on Green Hydrogen applications, minerals extraction, and copper-based thin films production and testing for green hydrogen generation. This research project falls under the Joint Communique of Intent (JCoI) signed between Namibia and the German Government to support the development of the Green Hydrogen Industry in Namibia.

UNAM, with its academic and research capacity, has entered into a partnership agreement with Enersense Energy Namibia (Pty) Ltd. and the University of Stuttgart for the development of the Daures Green Hydrogen Village (DGHV).

The funding provided by SASSCAL to UNAM will be used for the following services:

1. Research into Green Hydrogen and its applications in the Daures Green Hydrogen Village.
2. Research into extraction of minerals and metals for industrial applications in material development and fertilizers for agricultural use.
3. Research into copper and copper-based thin films applications in electrochemical water splitting for green hydrogen generation.

The Daures Green Hydrogen Village is situated in the Daures Constituency, the largest constituency in Erongo Region, Namibia, with a population of around 11,350 inhabitants. The majority of the people in this area rely on communal subsistence farming for their livelihoods. The Daures Green Hydrogen Village is set to become Africa’s first green hydrogen community. In Its first phase, 50 Namibians successfully employed at village, offering them meaningful jobs and research opportunities in sustainable energy. The village’s primary objectives of sustainable green hydrogen and ammonia production, fostering local employment and partnerships, demonstrating green hydrogen applications, and enabling a green hydrogen economy will serve as a model for future developments across the region.

SASSCAL’s proactive initiatives and collaborative endeavors, particularly in projects like the Daures Green Hydrogen Village, exemplify the pursuit of a greener, more sustainable future for Southern Africa and the broader African continent. The developments made in clean energy and research not only address climate change challenges but also pave the way for socio-economic advancement and environmental sustainability in the region.