Swakopmund, Namibia, is gearing up to be the host of Africa’s inaugural green hydrogen power plant, named Renewstable. Swakopmund’s mayor, Dina Namubes, sees this facility as a significant milestone in harnessing renewable energy sources for the town, country, and the continent as a whole.
During a recent business gathering organized by the Swakopmund municipality, Hydrogène de France (HDF) Energy Namibia representative Nicolas Lecomte highlighted the town’s leading role in the sustainable revolution, providing Africa with green baseload power.
Renewstable is designed to produce 30 MW of electricity during the day and evening, and 6 MW at night, with 230 MWh of energy storage capacity. The project is scheduled to commence construction in 2024, with an estimated capital expenditure of N$4.5 billion. HDF Energy is partnering with financial institutions for a non-recourse financing agreement to ensure the project’s robustness and bankability.
The key highlight of this groundbreaking venture is the innovative utilization of green hydrogen, generated through electrolysis powered by renewable energy. The plant is expected to yield around 1,400 tonnes of green hydrogen annually, making a significant contribution to reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The strategic location of Swakopmund offers the opportunity to utilize ocean water through desalination. This desalinated water will serve various purposes at the site, including topping up water levels and cleaning photovoltaic panels, enhancing the efficiency of the green energy production.
