Tuesday, September 13, 2022

Namibia's Hydrogen Power Plant

 


Africa is about to open the first hydrogen power plant on the continent. The plant is expected to start producing electricity in 2024. This allows Namibia not to be too reliant on South Africa for 40% of its power. Namibia wants to expand its sector in solar and wind energy. The nation has an advantage related to its environment. The economic potential is vast, but might not materialize rapidly. The technology is still developing in the field of renewable energy. How hydrogen plants work is through a network of solar panels. Their role is to power electrolyzers to produce hydrogen to be stored. This allows a country to move away from carbon based methods. Large amounts of carbon emissions contribute to rising global temperatures. Hydrogen plants are an engineering solution to a dire environmental problem. Concerns about EU involvement and some European companies have been made. These roles in hydrogen power plants might be a means to stir African countries away from Russian energy. The best method for Namibia would be to have access to as many markets as possible. Namibia  has diamonds, uranium,  gold, copper, zinc, and suspected  oil reserves. Namibia has reached the status of upper middle income country. However, poverty remains a persistent economic concern. The construction of hydrogen plants, exporting goods to the world market, and job training are policies that ensure Namibia's survival. Hydrogen power plants also protect Namibia's environment and diverse wildlife. 

No comments:

Post a Comment